Wales & West Utilities: Turning Innovation Into Net‑Zero Reality
Why It Matters
When you think of Britain’s energy, you’re probably picturing gas, oil, wind, and a sliver of solar. In 2022, gas ran the show at 39 %, oil at 36 %, wind at 4 % and solar a lean 1 %. 40 % of the country’s electricity still rides on the gas network, a lifeline that keeps the lights on when the demand spikes.
But the British government is on a bold net‑zero mission. To hit that target, we need to swap out the fossil‑fuel‑heavy lifeblood (gas) for cleaner alternatives that can still handle those peak moments and keep us secure. That’s where Wales & West Utilities (WWU) steps in.
Innovation—The Game Changer
Over the past two years, WWU launched 19 new projects backed by a whopping £2.2 million, including £1.5 million from the Network Innovation Allowance. The team has turned these initiatives into publicly available reports, inviting other networks to copy, collate, and advance the findings.
“Our Annual Innovation Report shows the hard work we’ve been pouring into the energy sector,” said Sian Rowlands, WWU’s Innovation Manager. “More than before, we’re keeping the door open for fresh ideas. Thanks to the NIA, almost half (47 %) of our projects came from collaborations. At WWU, teamwork isn’t a buzzword; it’s the backbone of the solution.”
2022/23 Project Pipeline Highlights
- HyLine Cymru – A brand‑new hydrogen pipe slithering across South Wales: link hydrogen production to factory demand, letting industries switch to hydrogen as early as 2030. This creates green jobs and turns South Wales into a hydrogen hub.
- Hydrogen for Aviation – The skies contribute a hefty 2.5 % of global CO₂. WWU’s patch, home to leading aerospace engineers, is designing ways to fuel airliners with hydrogen—so flight can trim its carbon tail fin.
- HyRes – A national partnership with universities and the UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) pushing hydrogen and liquid‑fuel tech that’s both eco‑friendly and pocket‑friendly. South Cornelly turned into a “community‑led energy transition” experiment, blending hydrogen into the gas grid for local farms and factories.
- Waste‑water to Green Hydrogen – Harnessing the power of NextGen Electrolysis. Instead of straight‑up purified water, the system uses less pure wastewater, slashing operational barriers and lowering costs for everyone on the spectrum.
- Salt Cavern Storage – Because hydrogen should be available when the sun takes a nap or the wind feels shy. WWU is scouting salt‑cavern sites that could house this clean fuel for use during low renewable output.
2023/24 Up‑Next
In the next 1‑½ years, WWU plans to roll out 38 projects, eventually expanding to even more. These efforts will focus on equitable energy change, speeding up decarbonisation across a variety of sectors.
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