August 2019
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference looks at the future of the UK gas network - including the regulatory challenges that the industry faces and the next steps for decarbonising gas in the energy, heat and transport sectors.
It takes place in the context of the recently legislated target for reducing national emissions to net-zero by 2050, and follows the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) reports on measures for achieving this target, which warn that the target will not be met without the near elimination of emissions from UK homes and other buildings.
Keynote speakers at this seminar include: David Joffe, Team Leader, Economy-Wide Analysis, Committee on Climate Change; Anthony Green, Head of Engineering and Asset Management, Gas Transmission, National Grid; Peter Burnill, Senior Policy Advisor, National Infrastructure Commission and Ed Syson, Chief Safety and Security Officer, Cadent Gas.
Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum conferences typically attract strong interest from policymakers. This seminar will be an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with officials who have reserved places representing: BEIS; CMA; Crown Commercial Service; DfT; DIT; Food Standards Agency; HSE; NAO; ONS and The Scottish Government.
The agenda
- Gas in the UK’s energy mix and framework for decarbonisation;
- Distribution: asset management, connectivity and priorities for RIIO-2;
- Infrastructure development for the future gas network;
- The network: efficiency, infrastructure resilience and innovation;
- Gas-powered generation - latest developments;
- Hydrogen - prospects for integration in to the UK’s gas network;
- Hybrid heating system opportunities;
- CCUS - its role in decarbonising gas; and
- Managing the transition to a low-carbon gas network.
The future of regulation
Delegates will examine future regulation of the sector and regulatory structures - as part of Ofgem’s framework for the next price control (RIIO-2) for the gas distribution network and gas and electricity transmission, starting in 2021.
In light of the recent decision on pricing methodology (where the return on equity for network operators and investors could be reduced, and higher shares of savings passed on to consumers), discussion will consider how this might affect the business plans that network companies will be asked to submit later this year - including priorities for delivering network modernisation, decarbonisation targets, and clean growth plans.
Security of supply
Sessions will also discuss network resilience, energy security and how to create a collaborative environment between power and gas companies, following the release of the UK national risk assessment on security of gas supply, aimed at ensuring that infrastructure and safeguards are in place to allow for exceptional climactic conditions or disruptions to supply.
Innovation
Further sessions will look at proposals for innovation in the gas network in light of Government’s £20m fund to support the creation of a hydrogen economy and new proposals to increase the proportion of ‘green’ gas in the gas grid laid out in the Spring Statement.
Discussion is expected on the challenges for converting the existing gas network to hydrogen, as well as the interrelated role of CCUS and the electrification of heating, and the feasibility of rolling out these technologies, including upgrades to existing gas supply pipes.
