Wales & West Utilities (WWU) has wrapped up its Maximising Capacity at Biomethane Sites study which aims to develop network and/or entry site solutions that will enable biomethane supply to meet the swings in demand through the year.
WWU currently has 22 biomethane entry sites connected to its network across Wales and the south west of England. In some parts of the south west system, we have now hit a saturation point for biomethane injection that can be supported in the summer/low demand periods.
Biomethane sites find it difficult to vary their load between winter and summer efficiently and design their plant for the quantity they can inject all year round, missing out on the increased opportunity in the winter.
WWU is aiming to maximise the opportunity for biomethane in these areas by also being able to meet the high winter demands with green gas entry.
The study, which began in October 2025, assessed opportunities to increase biomethane injection capacity across two Wales & West Utilities networks: the Intermediate Pressure network in the Evesham/Tewkesbury area and the Medium Pressure network in the Honiton/Swindon area.
The project identified that in some parts of the WWU network, capacity is becoming a larger barrier to biomethane growth than feedstock availability or production capability. Existing and prospective biomethane producers are already experiencing restrictions on connection offers and injection volumes, particularly during summer low-demand periods.
The project builds on previous work undertaken through OptiNet, which explored the application of reverse compression and Smart Pressure Control (SPC) technologies to create additional network capacity. By applying these concepts, as well as investigating other solutions on the MP and IP networks, the study has identified practical options for accommodating future biomethane growth and provided a framework for assessing similar constraints elsewhere on the gas network.
During the study, a range of solutions were considered, including reverse compression, smart pressure control and centralised biomethane hubs. Similar research and projects that took place in Europe demonstrate that both centralised and decentralised deployment models can be successful, and the UK is expected to utilise a combination of these approaches.
Helen Fitzgerald, System Operation Support Manager, WWU and project lead said:
“In terms of next steps, the study recommends progressing detailed engineering and operational assessment of the preferred IP reverse compression scheme, including dynamic modelling to optimise performance, energy consumption and integration with the wider network.
"For the MP network, further engagement with prospective biomethane developers is required to confirm future connection demand, alongside additional modelling to assess the benefits of directing new connections towards areas of available capacity or connecting suitable projects directly to the HP network.
"The centralised hub concept should also be refined to better understand its commercial, ownership and delivery arrangements under different growth scenarios.”
For more information about other WWU Innovation projects, please visit: Energy Innovation | Wales & West Utilities