Utonomy and SGN smart gas grid trial delivers significant cut in methane emissions

• A six-month trial by SGN and Utonomy projects 16% methane emissions reductions using intelligent pressure control

• The system optimised network pressure automatically in response to real-time demand and weather

• Gas distribution governor pressure was safely reduced by up to 31%

• The trial is part of SGN’s £6 million Intelligent Gas Grid initiative

Energy network SGN and UK tech company Utonomy have completed a six-month trial demonstrating how advanced pressure control can significantly reduce methane emissions from Britain’s gas grid. The results mark a major step toward building a smarter gas network aligned with the UK’s net zero ambitions.

Conducted between October 2024 and March 2025 across five SGN regions in southern England, the trial used dynamic pressure management powered by Utonomy’s AI-driven platform, UtonomyOne. The result: a projected average reduction of 16% in total methane leakage on any section of the network where this equipment is installed.

Methane leakage reduction of 16%

The system optimises network pressure by automatically adjusting it in response to real-time demand and weather conditions. It also anticipates changes, such as sudden cold snaps, avoiding the surge of alarms typically triggered by older pressure management systems during rapid demand shifts. As a result, SGN successfully reduced average governor pressures by up to 31%, a critical factor in curbing methane loss, which rises with pressure.

Importantly, the trial maintained full regulatory compliance throughout, with zero instances of pressure dropping below statutory minimums. This breakthrough forms a cornerstone of SGN’s £6 million Intelligent Gas Grid (IGG) programme, funded by Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund. IGG is exploring how digitalisation, AI, and green innovation can reshape gas networks for a decarbonised energy future.

Richard Buckley, SGN Head of Network Management (Distribution), said:

“Tackling methane leakage is a key focus for us. By harnessing advanced pressure management and machine learning, we can achieve meaningful reductions today while modernising network operations.

“This trial demonstrates how intelligent, self-optimising systems can drive a more efficient, lower-emission gas network built for the future.

“We’re excited for the next phase of the Intelligent Gas Grid project, which will leverage AI and an expanded dataset over a longer period to help gas networks predict anomalies before they occur and accelerate the integration of renewable green gases like biomethane.”

Adam Kingdon, founder of Utonomy, said:

“We are delighted to be working with SGN, Cadent, Wales & West Utilities, Northern Gas Networks, National Gas and DNV on this very exciting project to create the gas grid of the future.

“The UtonomyOne Intelligent Control trial results are exactly what we were aiming for. If the technology was rolled out nationwide, it would have a big impact on Britain’s methane emissions as well as network operating costs.”

The UtonomyOne solution, as deployed in this trial, will be commercially available from August 2025.

ENDS