Investigating hydrogen blending certification interactions with National Gas Transmission 

In 2023, the UK government committed to integrating 20% low carbon hydrogen by volume into the existing gas distribution networks to help achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The increase to 20% presents the UK with unique opportunities for market growth, while requiring new or adapted market infrastructure to allow gas suppliers and distributor networks to trade blended hydrogen. 

Whilst National Gas Transmission (NGT) owns, operates and maintains the UK’s gas transmission network, it does not currently handle hydrogen gas transmission on any significant scale and does not undertake any certification processes relating the hydrogen provenance. Digital Catapult explored the challenges NGT faces in implementing digital hydrogen certification for blending hydrogen into the UK gas transmission network through this collaboration.  

As part of the Hydrogen Innovation Initiative (HII), this project examined, on the basis of publicly available information, how NGT might certify hydrogen or engage with a future UK certification scheme within its current operating structure. Digital Catapult applied its industry insight and deep tech expertise to explore approaches that could strengthen end-to-end hydrogen supply chain resilience, support industrial decarbonisation, and equip the UK to be future ready.