Scottish Gas Network (SGN) is making significant progress with the installation of a new hydrogen pipeline along the A904 Bo'ness Road in Grangemouth. This pipeline will play a crucial role in the company's Local Transmission System (LTS) Futures trial, which aims to demonstrate the feasibility of transporting hydrogen at scale across the UK.

So far, SGN's contractors, Advance Group, have successfully laid 600 meters of the 1.2km supply line. The project has involved navigating around complex existing infrastructure, including INEOS Gate 7, a busy access point for SGN's partner INEOS.


The next phase of the project involves crossing the Avon Bridge. To minimise disruption to the community, SGN will thread the new 3-inch pipeline through an old, unused 16-inch gas main. This approach will avoid the need for multiple excavations and road closures.

Once the pipeline is completed along Bo'ness Road, SGN will use horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to connect it to the transmission line for the hydrogen trial. The HDD process will allow the company to carefully avoid existing underground assets, and much of the pipeline needed for this phase is already prepared.