10 November 2026
The right technology, the right location
Instead of focusing on which technology offers the solution, the more important question facing us is which mix of solutions are best suited to different parts of the country. The answer depends on a combination of factors, including local energy demand, existing infrastructure, geography, resource availability and cost.
This is why turning whole-system thinking into practical action matters. As the energy system becomes more complex, understanding how different technologies fit together, and where they make the most sense, is just as important as the technologies themselves.
The shift towards regional planning
One of the clearest examples of this shift towards whole system thinking can be seen in the development of Great Britain's first Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP).
Developed by NESO and submitted to UK, Scottish and Welsh governments, the SSEP is designed to provide a long-term blueprint for where electricity, biomethane and hydrogen generation and storage could be developed across the country.
Rather than identifying specific projects, it takes a regional approach, helping to determine which technologies are best suited to different parts of Great Britain.
Decisions about future infrastructure therefore need to reflect what is happening in individual areas, including the pace of electrification, the potential for hydrogen clusters, the availability of biomethane feedstocks and the needs of local businesses and communities.
The key to these decisions is data and at Xoserve we are already working closely with NESO through a data-sharing agreement that gives the operator access to regional gas data to support regional energy planning and decarbonisation analysis. The intention is for this data to ground those plans in how gas is actually used and supplied in each area, rather than relying on national-level assumptions alone. And the project is progressing at pace.
In August 2026, NESO submitted six pathway options for the SSEP to the secretary of state for consideration. The final plan is expected to draw on elements from multiple pathways rather than adopting a single solution, reflecting the reality that there is unlikely to be one optimal route to net zero for every region. A consultation on the selected pathway(s) is expected in the new year.
Why location matters for biomethane and hydrogen
In practice, biomethane and hydrogen provide useful examples of why whole-system planning increasingly depends on trusted, regional data.
Biomethane production is closely linked to the availability of feedstocks such as agricultural waste, food waste and anaerobic digestion facilities. As a result, supply is naturally concentrated in certain parts of the country rather than being evenly distributed across Great Britain.
This regional variation can be seen in Xoserve's aggregated biomethane injection data. This highlights how low-carbon gas opportunities are shaped by local factors, including resource availability, infrastructure and regional supply chains.
Source: Xoserve Aggregated Daily Biomethane Injections Report (2025/26)
Understanding where biomethane enters the gas network, and in what volumes, provides valuable visibility of regional energy supply. This information can help support network optimisation, infrastructure planning and wider strategic decision-making by providing a clearer picture of where low-carbon gas is already contributing to local energy systems.
Hydrogen presents a similar challenge. While it is often discussed as a national opportunity, its success will ultimately be determined by local conditions. Factors such as industrial demand, available infrastructure, access to production facilities and the wider energy needs of a region all influence where hydrogen may be viable.
These factors help explain why SSEP has been designed to consider not just technology deployment, but also location, timing, network requirements and cost. The plan aims to provide a pathway for the future deployment of electricity and hydrogen generation and storage across Great Britain, optimising decisions against demand, network needs and wider spatial considerations.
This local perspective is already being applied through the Hydrogen Transition Pathways for Industrial Clusters Project, led by Northern Gas Networks and Future Energy Networks with Xoserve as a project partner. Rather than assuming every industrial cluster has the same hydrogen potential, the project is developing a consistent framework to assess opportunities based on technical, economic, social and deliverability factors.
In both cases, the challenge is not simply determining whether biomethane or hydrogen has a role in the future energy system. It is understanding how regional circumstances influence their viability and potential contribution to local energy systems. Trusted, regional data helps planners move beyond national assumptions and make decisions based on the realities of local supply, demand and infrastructure.
Better decisions for the right places
Regional planning needs to be grounded in a clear understanding of local demand, infrastructure and future energy requirements.
The future energy system will be shaped by the decisions made today. To learn more about how Xoserve supports evidence-based planning through trusted market data and industry insight, visit our Decarbonisation Knowledge Centre.
Get in touch
If you have any feedback or questions on any of the above, please email us at decarbonisation@xoserve.com.
Share this news article