Planning Standards Engineer; Gas & Hydrogen - NESO

About The Role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

The methane gas networks have well-established engineering and planning standards, and NESO’s role in planning the methane gas network is firmly established and collaborates very strongly with National Gas Transmission (NGT). The standards and assumptions on which gas network planning is undertaken are similarly well-established and encoded in NGT’s Transmission Planning Code (TPC). However, the equivalent standards have not been fully established for the emerging hydrogen systems.

NESO will become the ‘strategic planner’ for hydrogen transportation and storage in 2026, which will require, at least, the development of planning standards equivalent to those used in methane gas transportation. We are seeking one or more experienced gas engineers to work together, under the leadership of a Network Engineering Manager, and with industry, to develop relevant standards, policies and practices for application in hydrogen system planning, and also to support in the review and development of gas (methane) standards and policies.

The role will primarily focus on establishing network planning standards for emerging hydrogen networks, ensuring alignment with relevant regulations, safety requirements, and best practices. We expect the focus to be on above 7 barg hydrogen networks, although knowledge of below 7 barg and downstream gas systems will be advantageous. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape hydrogen engineering policy for all assets required for hydrogen transmission network and storage.

In addition, the role will also take responsibility for ensuring that the network planning standards that apply to gas (methane) networks are understood and applied in NESO, providing robust challenge and review to the standards developed by the wider industry, such as the Transmission Planning Code. The role will collaborate with key external stakeholders, including gas network businesses, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Institute of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM), other relevant industry associations, government departments, and consumers, to shape the future of gas infrastructure.

This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick or Glasgow and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

• Development and documentation of the hydrogen network planning standards that will be applicable to NESO’s hydrogen network planning activities. Developing and maintaining relevant engineering policies, technical standards and best practice.
• Assessing whether policies and standards align with safety regulations and industry benchmarks, and ensuring management is alerted to any misalignment or inconsistency.
• Supporting management in the Gas and Whole Energy Network Development (GWEND) department in the development of ways of working, working procedures and project management for your team including risk management and KPI monitoring.
• Working with relevant Strategic Energy Planning (SEP) directorate and wider NESO teams to ensure hydrogen network planning standards reflect various requirements such as security of supply, operability, deliverability. Providing support and guidance on gas and hydrogen engineering topics to wider teams in GWEND, SEP, NESO and in the wider industry.
• Maintaining good working relationships with relevant engineers and teams within key stakeholders – in particular National Gas Transmission, licensed gas distribution networks, and relevant consumers.
• Supporting reviews of NGT’s TPC and other relevant standards.

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. We’re looking for great people who has/is:

• Chartered Engineer in a relevant discipline or evidence of working towards chartership.
• Engineering knowledge of >7barg gas or hydrogen…