National Gas Plans 1,500-Mile Hydrogen Pipeline Network Across Britain
National Gas has announced plans for Project Union, a 1,500-mile hydrogen pipeline network linking major industrial hubs across Great Britain. The project aims to repurpose existing gas infrastructure to transport 100% hydrogen, boosting UK energy security and supporting its net-zero goals.
(P&GJ) — National Gas has unveiled Project Union, an ambitious plan to develop up to a 1,500-mile hydrogen pipeline network across Great Britain — a project the company says will strengthen national energy security and support the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
According to the company’s official announcement, some existing natural gas pipelines will be repurposed and new ones constructed to transport 100% hydrogen, linking major industrial hubs such as Teesside, the Humber region, Grangemouth, Southampton, northwest England, South Wales, and St. Fergus. The network will also connect to the Bacton Gas Terminal and LNG import facilities, potentially enabling hydrogen exports to Europe.
“Project Union will play a pivotal role in helping Great Britain become a clean energy superpower by enabling the transition to safe, low-carbon hydrogen energy,” National Gas said in a statement. The company added that the project will “demonstrate the strength of British engineering” while fostering economic growth and job creation.
The first phase, Project Union: East Coast, will focus on connecting hydrogen production and industrial users in northeastern England. National Gas said the two-year development phase includes design work, environmental assessments, and public consultations.
National Gas is also collaborating with Northern Gas Networks and Cadent on the East Coast Hydrogen program, a 15-year effort to convert up to 39,000 businesses across northern and eastern England to hydrogen. Project Union will provide the key national infrastructure for that conversion.
The company noted that reusing portions of the existing 5,000-mile National Transmission System, in operation for more than six decades, will reduce costs and environmental impacts compared with new-build infrastructure.
Hydrogen Design Phase
In August, National Gas appointed WSP as the lead technical partner to design the Project Union East Coast hydrogen network, marking a major milestone in the development of the UK’s first national hydrogen transmission system. Supported by Kent, WSP will oversee a two-year front-end engineering and design (FEED) program that includes environmental assessments, consents, and public consultation.
The East Coast phase will link key industrial clusters in Teesside and the Humber, providing low-carbon hydrogen to power stations, industries, and storage sites. The initiative represents the first stage of Project Union’s 1,500-mile network, designed to strengthen UK energy security and enable large-scale hydrogen deployment.
National Gas said the start of FEED marks the transition “toward delivery for this pioneering project,” emphasizing its role in protecting skilled jobs and building a cleaner, more resilient energy system.
WSP will act as FEED Integrator, coordinating work among partners including Murphy, Aecom, Premzero, and National Gas Services. The appointment follows £96 million ($123 million) in Ofgem-approved funding for the East Coast Hydrogen program, led by National Gas, Cadent, and Northern Gas Networks.