Background
Cadent Gas is the UK’s largest gas distribution network. It is responsible for safely delivering gas to millions of homes and businesses across the country.
During normal gas network activities, such as construction, maintenance, inspection, and commissioning of equipment, it is sometimes necessary to purge or vent gas from parts of the network to allow work to be carried out safely. These processes are well‑established and essential for safe operations, but they can result in the intentional release of methane to the atmosphere.
In addition to these planned activities, methane can also be released during routine automatic operations on the gas network. This includes equipment such as valve controllers, odorant injection systems (which add the safety smell to gas), and gas quality monitoring equipment, all of which may periodically release small amounts of gas as part of their normal function.
The Challenge
Cadent Gas is seeking solutions that can reduce, capture, avoid, or otherwise minimise methane emissions associated with gas network operations. The challenge is structured across the following three Lots, reflecting different technical approaches and operating pressures.
Lot 1 – Gas industry‑accredited pressure management and control systems
Solutions that use accredited pressure management and control technologies to reduce or avoid planned methane emissions during normal gas network operation.
Lot 2 – Re‑compression systems designed for use up to and including 2 bar
Solutions that capture and recompress gas that would otherwise be vented during operational activities on lower‑pressure parts of the gas network.
Lot 3 – Re‑compression systems designed for use above 2 bar
Solutions capable of capturing and recompressing gas from higher‑pressure network operations, suitable for deployment in more demanding operating environments.
Cadent is open to a range of solution types across all Lots, including permanent or temporary equipment, retrofit or bolt‑on systems, and solutions that can be integrated into existing operational practices. Proposals should clearly state which Lot they are addressing and how the solution reduces methane emissions in real‑world conditions.
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Entrants to this competition must be established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs, or individual entrepreneurs as well as being UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base.
Applications will be assessed on:
- Relevance to the defined challenge
- Benefit of implementation
- Feasibility/economic viability
- Innovative nature
- Ability to launch in line with expected timescales
- Credibility of applicant company
- Coherence of the proposed business model
- Development potential
- Maturity of the solution
- Suitability for the intended geographic market
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- Launch of the competition: 10 March
- Deadline for applications: 21 April
- Selection and notification of finalists: 7 May
- Date of pitch day: 20 May
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Successful applicants will have the opportunity to:
- Pitch their solution to Cadent Gas
- Participate in pilot trials on real network assets
- Explore longer term deployment opportunities across Cadent’s network
Additional benefits may include:
- Support from Innovate UK Business Connect
- Technical and operational input from Cadent Gas
- Potential future commercial collaboration
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Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solution Provider(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the solution provider(s) and challenge holder.
Any commercial deployment of a transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership, or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the solution provider(s) and challenge holder.
Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the solution provider(s) and challenge holder. (This would be expected to be after company selection, it is suggested that details of IP be not disclosed, focus on the outcomes of the technology proposed).
Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect do not take any share of IP ownership or enter commercial ventures through the iX programme.
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Functional requirements
The solution must / should:
- Be applicable to typical gas network purging and venting scenarios
Or
- Reduce intentional emissions resulting from pressure management / gas quality / flow equipment designed to release natural gas
- Be deployable within controlled operational environments
- Minimise disruption to existing operational practices
- Be scalable across different asset types and network pressures
Technical requirements
The solution must / should:
- Demonstrate a measurable reduction in methane emissions
- Integrate safely with existing gas network equipment and procedures
- Provide reliable performance under real‑world operating conditions
- Where relevant, enable monitoring or quantification of emissions reduction
Operating conditions
Practical deployment considerations
Solutions must be suitable for deployment within the practical constraints of live UK gas network operations. Proposals should take into account typical site and operational conditions, including:- The need to maintain continuity of gas supply
- Compliance with existing safety cases and regulatory requirements
- Space limitations at above‑ and below‑ground assets
- Time available on site during planned works
- Availability of power and other utilities
- Requirements for appropriate certification (e.g. ATEX where applicable)
- Variable ground conditions and typical UK weather
- Innovators should clearly state any key assumptions, constraints, or prerequisites associated with deployment of their solution
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The application form for this challenge will require applicants to provide company information and answer 3 questions – Idea Summary, Technology Readiness and Intellectual Property – each with a limit of 300 words.
Optionally, up to 3 supporting documents can be attached to the application. We recommend that supporting documents are limited to those which are directly relevant to the application. Please note that applications with no supporting document will not receive any penalty in assessment. Supporting documents which the Assessment Panel deems to be superfluous may be disregarded. Examples of useful additional documents include product images or short specification sheets, slide decks detailing the solution and/or company background, or solution case studies.
We recommend that you complete the application form in Google Chrome as other browsers may have compatibility issues. The application form does not need to be completed in one session and can be saved for future edits. Please ensure that you toggle “Stage Complete” for each section before submission. Note that you will no longer be able to edit your application once you have clicked “Submit Idea” at the bottom of the Summary page.
Innovate UK's application and funding process
If you need more information about how to apply, please read our funding support pages. For additional support, reach out to our team of innovation experts who are ready to help you navigate the application process and maximise your chances of success.
For more information
Accessibility and Inclusion
Innovate UK welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.