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Connections

Connections

Understand how to apply for a connection or reserve capacity on the gas National Transmission System (NTS) 

Connecting to the gas National Transmission System

The National Transmission System (NTS) transports high-pressure natural gas around Great Britain via thousands of miles of pipeline. It supplies gas to major end users such as power stations, large industrial plants and storage sites, as well as to the Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) that carry gas to homes and businesses across the country. Via interconnectors, it also supplies gas to the European continent and the island of Ireland. 

Gas is injected into the NTS from a number of sources, including the North Sea gas fields, liquefied naturals gas (LNG) terminals, interconnector pipes from Europe, biomethane plants and gas storage facilities. 

Gas enters and exits the NTS at connection points. 

If you wish to connect to the NTS, there are three types of connection you can apply for:

  • Entry:  A connection enabling you to inject gas into the NTS. 
  • Exit:  A connection enabling you to take gas off the NTS. 
  • Storage:  A connection enabling you to both take gas off the NTS and inject gas back into it. 

Find out more about the connection process and how to apply.

Connection process

Reserving capacity on the NTS

National Gas supports shippers or developers who wish to reserve gas capacity on the NTS for projects that are in development, such as new industrial plants or business parks. Applicants can buy the right to take gas off the NTS (or flow gas into it) by reserving NTS pipeline capacity. 
 
Capacity can be reserved through the Planning and Advanced Reservation of Capacity Agreement (PARCA). To reserve capacity on interconnector pipelines, you must use the Capacity Allocation Mechanism (CAM). 

Find out more about reserving capacity.

Reserving Capacity

Diverting gas pipelines

If you are planning to carry out any construction or infrastructure work near to a gas pipeline, you must contact National Gas for advice. In some circumstances, it may be necessary to divert the pipeline. NTS pipeline diversions can be complex and costly, so we aim to avoid the need for diversions wherever possible. 

Find out more about the pipeline diversion process and who to contact.

Pipeline diversion

Home and business connections 

National Gas only manages direct connections to the high-pressure National Transmission System (NTS), which supplies gas to the regional Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs). If you are a homeowner or a business, your premises will be connected to the GDN in your area. 
 
To apply for a new gas connection, please contact your local network operator directly. You can find out who your network operator is, and how to contact them, by entering your postcode on the Energy Networks Association postcode search tool.