Introduction: Northern Gas Networks are working towards having a net zero carbon footprint by 2050. A large part of NGN’s current emissions come from their fleet of service vehicles, so in order to decarbonise the business, NGN are looking to convert a section of that fleet to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) rather than Diesel.

Objectives: Stage 1 Objectives – Market Analysis and Environmental Review – Including Refuelling Capability Design Review
Objectives of this task are to:
• Characterise the state of the CNG market in the region;
• Research and identify potential partners in the region;
• Characterise key features of the CNG technology to be used in the Stage 2 simulation;
• Conduct research in to CNG refuelling capabilities. Report on key aspects such as cost, refuel rate that can be used in the Stage 2 simulation.

Stage 2 Objectives – Network and Transport Modelling
Objectives of this task are to:
• Develop a digital model of key sections of NGN fleet. Initially, assuming all vehicles are conventionally fuelled, run the simulation, attending locations taken from past usage data provided by NGN.
• Modify some/all of the fleet to use CNG as a fuel source, monitoring how the system responds to the new vehicles.
• With the CNG vehicles in active service, monitor where vehicles require refuelling and use this information to inform refuelling capability placement.

Stage 3 Objectives – Business Case for change

Objectives of this tasks are to:
• Create a business case for change, which takes the commercial and technical research completed in Stage 1, and augments this with the results of the simulation produced in Stage 2 to produce a business case for investing in CNG infrastructure.