Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | OCTOBER 2021 | 7 The Month in Review First blending of hydrogen into gas network 'a success' Hydrogen can be safely blended into a domestic gas supply, a study into the first UK trial of the concept has concluded. The report into the HyDeploy project, which injected hydrogen into a private gas network serving 100 homes and 30 faculty buildings at Keele University, says the blending project has been successful. Under the HyDeploy project, a collabo- ration between Northern Gas Networks (NGN) and Cadent, 20 per cent of the gas piped into the private network was hydrogen. The project, according to the study, is the first time that hydrogen has been injected into a UK domestic gas grid since 1976, when town gas was phased out. Carrying out the trial marked the first time that the Health & Safety Executive had granted regulatory approval to oper- ate a live gas network above the current hydrogen limit of 0.1 per cent by volume stipulated in the Gas Safety (Manage- ment) Regulations. The trial delivered over 42,000 cubic metres of "green" hydrogen, manufac- tured using electrolysers, which the study says abated more than 27 tonnes of CO2 emission. The report said the project demon- strated that the hydrogen blend was suit- able for use with domestic appliances as well as larger commercial appliances, including catering equipment and boilers up to 600 kW. Pauline Walsh departs from Affinity Affinity Water's chief executive Pauline Walsh stepped down from the company with immedi- ate effect at the beginning of September a•er three years in the role. At the same time, the company admitted it may have to make redundancies due to its stretching performance commitments and the financial pressures of Covid-19. Stuart Ledger, currently chief financial officer, has been appointed interim chief executive. During her tenure Walsh established priorities for future investment and initiated improvements to both operations and cultural change across the business. National Grid has successfully erected the world's first T-pylon. It represents the first newly designed electricity pylon to be introduced to Great Britain for nearly a century. The first of the pylons was put up near East Huntspill in Somerset at the start of September as part of the £900 million Hinkley Connection project. This will eventually see 116 T-pylons along the 57km-route between Bridgwater and Portbury. The project also includes the removal of 249 traditional pylons between Bridgwater and Avonmouth. The new design has a single pole and T-shaped cross arms which hold the wires in a diamond "earring" shape. What it meant to be named Utility of the Year As we look towards the 2021 Utility Week Awards, it seems like only yesterday the 2020 awards were announced. That was strange in itself as it was already 2021 at the time, but I guess it's yet another example of where Covid-19 has affected what used to be called normal life. Reflecting back, we can see how the fab- ric of our society has been tested over the past 18 months, but at the same time it's amazing to see how we've adapted. Last year was tough but 2021 hasn't been easy either, with the second and extended lockdown proving challeng- ing. What we've also seen in the past few months is how mental health has come to the fore, in a way many of us might not have expected. Here it's good to see so many companies across our sector offering valuable help to our people on the challenges they've had. Looking back, it was a real honour for us to be named as Utility of the Year. Knowing they'd been recognised at the highest level has been very rewarding for our own people and o¡en is reflected in the pride and profes- sionalism they show in their work. As I said at the time, the 2020 awards demonstrated recognition for the challeng- ing environment all utility companies found themselves in, whether it was gas, water or electricity, we all kept our customers warm, powered and connected with our essential services. One thing I've noticed with pleas- ure over this time is the growth in collabo- ration right across the utility industry, with net zero being a prime example of where our industry is taking a fantastic lead in help- ing the UK progress. It's also good to see this real-world and essential challenge now reflected in the Utility Week Awards. I wish everyone entering the awards this year every success. It's true I think the com- petition gets harder each year but that just means the quality of the work we do for our customers carries on improving, which is something we can all be proud of. John Morea, chief executive, SGN Join us as we reunite the industry in person on 13 December. Book your tickets at https://www.utilityweekawards.co.uk

• Cover