Project Union will create a hydrogen pipeline network to energise British industry, which will power growth, protect and create jobs, and deliver energy security.

Powering industry for future generations

National Gas owns and operates the 5,000 mile National Transmission System, which has transported gas the length and breadth of Great Britain for more than 60 years. Regular upgrades and innovations have made the network one of the safest and most reliable in Europe. Project Union is the next step in the evolution of National Gas.

Some of our existing pipelines will be repurposed and new pipelines will be built to create up to a 1,500-mile national hydrogen network, transporting 100% hydrogen across Great Britain.

Hydrogen is used every day to power industry and our industries already help move it around sites.

The network will grow the existing hydrogen economy by driving home-grown hydrogen production and ensuring continued supply through storage – helping to increase the UK’s energy security. Hydrogen will complement other energy sources, helping power industry for future generations.

Delivering the transition

National Gas will play a pivotal role in helping Great Britain become a clean energy superpower by enabling the transition to safe, low-carbon hydrogen energy.

Project Union will demonstrate the strength of British engineering by enabling the use of home-grown hydrogen while boosting the economy.

We are pioneering new technologies, collaborating across new industries and unlocking new opportunities to harness hydrogen as the driving force to a more secure energy system.

Why Hydrogen?

Hydrogen has an important role to play in achieving net zero, with the UK’s Hydrogen Strategy estimating 250-460 TWh of hydrogen could be needed to achieve net zero in 2050.

Specifically, hydrogen provides hard-to-decarbonise industries with a low-carbon energy source, helping these industries to cut emissions.

Combined with other energy sources, hydrogen has the potential to help power industry for future generations.

National significance with local focus 

At National Gas, we are committed to working with local communities to ensure our projects deliver a positive legacy.

For Project Union, we will work hand-in-hand with communities to understand how this national programme can deliver local opportunity.

That includes everything from protecting and creating jobs to advancing skills and careers, and from understanding local needs to delivering long-term value for local supply chains.

We want to strengthen industry and empower communities to make the most of this once-in-a-generation opportunity.

Connecting British industry 

Project Union will connect the industrial clusters at Teesside, the Humber region and Grangemouth, and link up with Southampton, the North West and South Wales as well as connect to strategic hydrogen production sites – including at St. Fergus.

The network will connect to the Bacton Gas Terminal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, enabling hydrogen to be exported across Europe and the world, creating revenue for the UK.

How will Project Union be built?

We are taking a phased approach to both repurpose and build the new hydrogen pipeline network. This will ensure a continual supply of natural gas while avoiding the cost associated with decommissioning (where we withdraw certain sections of pipe from service).

Repurposing our existing network is also significantly more cost effective than building entirely new pipelines and assets, and minimises environmental impacts.

The first section – Project Union: East Coast

Project Union will create a national network rolled out in sections regionally. The first will be in the East Coast of England, where much of the country's hydrogen will be generated.

Project Union: East Coast will connect critical industries across Teesside and the Humber region, helping to build energy security for the UK by enabling a transition to more home-grown, low-carbon energy for hard-to-decarbonise industries.

We are currently in a two-year development phase of design, environmental assessment, consents and public consultation to drive Project Union: East Coast forward.

With the East Coast’s industrial heritage at its core, Project Union will help create a robust supply chain, unlocking opportunities for businesses across the entire hydrogen value chain.

East Coast Hydrogen – a pioneering collaboration

National Gas is working in collaboration with Northern Gas Networks and Cadent to deliver the East Coast Hydrogen programme, a 15-year project to convert up to 39,000 businesses to hydrogen across the North and East of England.

The first step in this process is to convert the national and local gas network to hydrogen, and Project Union will provide vital infrastructure to help deliver this pioneering scheme.

Find out more

Want to know more? Contact the team:
[email protected]