5 January 2026
A future informed by the past
In this episode of the Decarb Discussions podcast, Xoserve’s Orlando Minervino and Poppy Airey, are joined by Professor Russell Thomas, energy historian and Technical Director at WSP, to discuss his latest report which explores the lessons learned from the transformation of the UK gas industry in the 1960s and 1970s.
The conversion programme remains the largest energy transition in Great Britain and took over ten years to complete, affecting over 12 million domestic and 400 thousand commercial and industrial customers, as almost 35 million appliances were converted to natural gas. Its success was driven by meticulous planning and coordination – offering valuable insights as the UK embarks on another major energy transition.
This episode explores Phase Two of the Lessons Learnt project, building on the research from Phase One, which examined the conversion from town gas to natural gas in the 1960s and 70s. In this second phase, the focus turns to the complex challenges of industrial and commercial conversion, alongside examples of gas network decommissioning and international approaches to decarbonisation.
The Lessons Learnt project was commissioned by Wales & West Utilities and undertaken by researchers at WSP, in partnership with SGN, using Network Innovation Allowance funding.
We discuss:
- the importance of planning, safety, and communication in large-scale energy conversion.
- the technical and social impacts of Northern Ireland’s gas network decommissioning.
- the challenges of industrial and commercial conversion, including bespoke solutions and workforce training.
- some of the international approaches for Net Zero and decarbonisation strategies across Europe.
If you work in policy, industry, or have an interest in the future of energy, this offers valuable insights into hydrogen’s role and potential in the UK’s energy transition.
Decarb Discussions: Dedicated podcasts exploring the road to net zero for the gas industry.
To access our latest episode, or to view a full list of others across the series, click the link below.
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