This project seeks to investigate the repurposing of gas distribution network assets for the installation of ducted infrastructure to support operation of utility systems. These systems could be used for alternative utilities, unlocking a new revenue stream for gas operators, as well as deployment of fibre optic monitoring, helping to better understand the state of their existing gas asset networks. To achieve this, any deployed system needs to be technically, commercially, operationally, and regulatorily feasible. The feasibility of using the ducted infrastructure for monitoring in pipe conditions and surrounding conditions will also be assessed as part of this project, providing a potentially significant benefit to gas distribution network operators as the system looks to transition towards net zero.
Benefits
Proactive Maintenance (Cost Avoidance)-
By monitoring the network, issues can be detected early which means they can be dealt with before they cause a large impact. This reduces the cost of maintenance compared to existing reactive methodologies.
Diversification of Asset Base (Investment Asset Risk Reduction)-
By installing ducted infrastructure, it allows for the gas network assets to be used for more than just gas distribution, e.g., to deploy a fibre network. This could create additional revenue streams out of the same assets and safeguards against changing uses.
Customer Satisfaction (Reduced Customer Impact)-
Network issues are identified & resolved in a timely fashion, ensuring customers are faced with less disruption. This will be achieved by reinforcing network reliability.
Data Led Decision Making (Cost Avoidance/Mitigation)-
By monitoring the network, real-time information of the entire asset base can be gathered. This allows for data to help in the decision-making process by looking for areas of the greatest need when it comes to updating.
Targeted Maintenance (Cost Avoidance/Mitigation)-
Data on asset condition from across the network will allow for areas with the most need of maintenance to be calculated. The exact location of any issues can be pinpointed to within a few metres so any gas asset remediation will only require a small cost-effective surface excavation minimising disruption.
Asset Records Audit (Cost Avoidance/Compliance)-
During installation of such a network into existing assets they can be surveyed in long lengths navigating obstacles such as siphons providing an audit of existing records and information on their condition.
Improving Access to Fibre Broadband to Customers & Help Address Digital Poverty-
By efficiently deploying a fibre network through alternative methods, more customers will have access to fibre-based broadband. More areas will have access to fibre broadband so this can be targeted to areas with low access to digital infrastructure addressing digital poverty.
Sustainable Building of Fibre Networks (Sustainability)-
Deliver fibre networks installation in a more sustainable manner than building new networks from scratch (Open Cut Trenching).
Raise private funding for the further development phases of the project-
During the feasibility there may be the option in parallel to seek private funding to fund the further technical and commercial development and pilot costs; conditional on success of this feasibility phase. This could accelerate availability of a fully tested solution by 1-2 years and eliminate the need for use of regulated GDN innovation funding estimated to be £1.25-2.5m for other projects.
Learnings
Outcomes
The project started with an in-depth assessment of the technical feasibility of installing ducted infrastructure into gas pipes and the operational impacts. The solution of ducted infrastructure is a highly efficient and minimally invasive way to provide additional functionality to a GDN, solutions involving the repurposing of entire sections of pipe were also assessed as a future possibility. nuron found that the installation of ducted infrastructure within a gas network is fully feasible and have identified a range of different installation techniques that can be explored further and potentially be specialised for the varying environments expected within any gas network. DNV have reviewed the proposed techniques and concluded that risks outlined can be managed with reasonable mitigations, such as robust designs, updates to existing procedures and operational training. Therefore, these techniques can be developed into the foundation of a resilient toolkit of installation techniques and processes that will improve the value of any GDN whether they are in use or retired.
To fully utilise the ducted infrastructure, the possibility of installing DOFS was considered. This drew on nuron’s expertise to propose potential options for the most efficient configuration of parameters to suit the needs of NGN. The results and findings of the work done in this phase showcase a significant opportunity to the GDN operators and highlight a vast range of sensing possibilities and opportunities to move towards wider active measurement along the length of the GDN. Through proof-of-concept testing, the feasibility of using installed ducted infrastructure for fibre optic monitoring was proved. Highlighting an opportunity for NGN to increase resiliency to the wide range of different operating scenarios they may find themselves in.
The final phase of the project was conducted by Analysys Mason and focused on the commercial viability of ducted infrastructure and a review of relevant legislation and regulations, with a deep dive on the use of fibre for telecommunications. This review focused on the addressable market within NGN’s gas network reach and estimates of the telecoms business connectivity market. The addressable market has approximately GBP11 million annual wholesale business connectivity revenues to a GDN. It is highlighted that fibre for telecommunications has the potential to be used in parallel with other secondary utilities, depending on the business cases, and therefore this addressable market is only a fraction of the full potential.
Lessons Learnt
The study addressed all GDN pipeline pressure tiers and materials, detailing out which would be the most feasible for repurposing. This was done through, likelihood for decomissioning in the future and with current operational practices that take place. The project identified that the High Pressure and some intermediate sections of GDN's networks would not provide a commercially feasible option to repurpose.
This meant that more of the focus was put on the low and medium pressure tiers of the network, allowing the project to narrow down on those specific characteristics of each. These posed to be positive options as they would be predominantly located in areas of the network that were situated the closest to the consumers.
The project identified that industrial and commercial consumers would be best suited to adopt the optical fibre transported within the repurposed network.
