NIC criteria
There is a fund of £20m available each year to:
![A green circle with a white leaf outline in the centre - leaf icon small](/sites/default/files/styles/content_embedded_image/public/images/leaf%20icon.png.webp?itok=0qE3IuYF) | Accelerate the development of a low carbon energy sector
and/or deliver environmental benefits |
![A blue circle with a white pound sterling symbol in the centre](/sites/default/files/styles/content_embedded_image/public/images/GBP%20icon.png.webp?itok=yBzmHqAb) | Deliver value for money for gas customers |
![A red-pink circle with a pair of hands shaking in the centre](/sites/default/files/styles/content_embedded_image/public/images/handshake%20icon.png.webp?itok=y8iZS9Sr) | Create knowledge that can be shared across energy networks
in Great Britain (GB), or create opportunities for roll-out across
a significant proportion of GB networks |
![A blue circle with a thought bubble icon in the centre](/sites/default/files/styles/content_embedded_image/public/images/idea%20icon_0.png.webp?itok=F703OLkS) | Be innovative (ie not business as usual) and has an unproven business case where the innovation risk warrants a project to
demonstrate its effectiveness |
Timeline
The competition runs on an annual basis – with the following timeline:
- Autumn 2018 – Call out for ideas.
- April 2019 – Projects submitted to Initial Screening Process (ISP).
- August 2019 – Full project submission for evaluation.
- September 2019 – Ofgem expert panel review and interviews.
NIC 2019 call for ideas
We want your ideas for a 2019 Gas Transmission NIC Programme!
We are calling for proposals to develop substantial innovations for the UK’s gas transmission network. To help focus your ideas we have mapped out some key themes and ideas where we would welcome proposals.
Submission deadline is 31 January 2019
The 2019 themes are focused in four main areas:
![A blue circle with a clock and pound sterling sign symobolising the Efficiency Challenge in the centre](/sites/default/files/styles/content_embedded_image/public/images/ICON_The%20Efficiency%20Challenge.png.webp?itok=X7MrCzdf) | The Efficiency ChallengeThere’s always room to improve - and our customers expect us to do it. How can we deliver the same work but a step-change cheaper, faster or significantly more flexibly? Can we find and prove new methods to isolate, modify, repair, divert or decommission our assets better than legacy industry standards? |
![A light blue circle with a finger pointing at numbers symobolising asset management in the centre](/sites/default/files/styles/content_embedded_image/public/images/ICON_Asset%20Management.png.webp?itok=9tDvXhqV) | Asset ManagementBy 2021 over 70% of our sites and pipelines will be over 40 years old. What are the new and smarter techniques to collect and exploit data about these assets? What new technology and methods are there for the repair and replacement of aging assets? Are there new solutions to old problems that give more flexibility? |
![A magenta circle with pointed pipelines symbolising the future of the gas National Transmission System (NTS) in the centre](/sites/default/files/styles/content_embedded_image/public/images/ICON_Future%20of%20the%20National%20Transmission%20System%20%28NTS%29.png.webp?itok=A3EVuT9i) | Future of the National Transmission System (NTS)All futures will require a more flexible and responsive network. What do we need to investigate and develop now in order to operate a more distributed gas system? How can we welcome unconventional gas sources and design for future gas transmission network demands? And how do we allow flex between the gas and electricity vectors? |
![A green circle with leaves symobolising safety and environmental impact in the centre](/sites/default/files/styles/content_embedded_image/public/images/ICON_Safety%20and%20Environmental%C3%A1Impact.png.webp?itok=metPN309) | Safety and Environmental ImpactAll futures will require a more flexible and responsive network. What do we need to investigate and develop now in order to operate a more distributed gas system? How can we welcome unconventional gas sources and design for future gas transmission network demands? And how do we allow flex between the gas and electricity vectors? |