The natural gas distribution networks may experience gas leakages near old junction points between tubes and valves that are parts of the distribution system, or as a consequence of damages such as excavations or vehicle collisions: these losses are directly proportional to the pressure at which the gas is kept in order to ensure the proper quality of service standards.
How can we balance the two apparently opposed needs, minimizing the leakages caused by damages and maximizing the quality standards offered to the users?
The answer to this question lies in the development of new technologies that allowto reach the right balance between these needs, when  successfully implemented.
The "Life Green Gas Network" project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a new management and control system for the pressure levels regulation in the natural gas distribution network. In order to reach this purpose, the project involves the development, the test and the actual implementation of a new software for the management of remote communications between network and control center. Furthermore, real time data processing allows the real time pressure optimization in each network’s sector.

Thanks to this system, our team forecasts that the greenhouse gas emissions caused by the abovementioned gas leakages should decrease by at least 3%.

With reference to the purposes that the project aims to reach once the system will be active and operating, these will be expected results of the project:

1.    Significantly lower pressure values during off-peak hours on the network test areas (Albiate and Cesate Municipalities), once the new automatic pressure regulation system will be online for low (BP) and medium pressure (MP) and for all types of pipes, steel or polyethylene (PE ), as shown below:

• Albiate, MP, steel: 1 bar instead of 2 bar
• Albiate, MP, PE: 0,5 bar instead of 0,9 bar
• Albiate, MP, steel and PE: 20 mbar instead of 24 mbar
• Cesate, MP, steel and PE: 1.5 bar instead of 2.5 bar
• Cesate, LP, steel and PE: 25 mbar instead of 40 mbar

With these values a reduction of at least 3% of the gas leakages will be obtained, and, consequently, a reduction of the GHG emissions. The total amount of gas saved in the network’s section involved in the test phase will consist of 467 CO2 TEQ;

2.    In relation to the service levels, the goal is to maintain a pressure level for all the delivery points of the network section involved in the test of 18 mbar or higher. With reference to the network’s balancing, the goal is not recording significant variations of speed and/or flow inversions in any of the pipes belonging to the network’s test area;

3.    The new system must ensure the safety standards requested by the ATEX legislation, it has to be self-powered with no connections to the electric grid in case the latest is not already available and, from a performance point of view, it must be able to allow at least a pressure modulation procedure per minute on all the pressure regulators;

Dissemination activities have to reach the following purposes: publication of articles on at least 2 different publications about gas and participation in 4 events (exhibitions and seminars) in Europe and in Italy, involving at least 2.000 people.

Milestones of the Project		Number of the associated action	Deadline	Status
a	project kick-off meeting	E1	30/09/14	Completed
b	Web site project	D1	30/11/14	Completed
c	Conclusion of network modelling	B1	31/05/15	Completed
d	Conclusion of device development and testing	B2	31/08/15	Completed
e	Conclusion of software development	B3	31/08/15	Completed
f	Conclusion of testing	B4	31/08/16	Completed 30/09/17
g	After Life Communication Plan	E4	28/02/17	Completed 30/09/17
h	Conclusion of measuring the enviromental impacts	C1	28/02/17	Completed 30/09/17
i	Conclusion of reports on socio-economic impact	C2	28/02/17	Completed 30/09/17
j	Internal monitoring Report format	E2	28/02/17	Completed 30/09/17
k	Networking report	E3	28/02/17	Completed 30/09/17
l	Project final conference	D1	28/02/17	Completed 30/09/17

Deliverable Name	Output produced	Associated action	Due date	Status	Annex
Communication plan	Report	D1	30/11/14	Completed on time	See IR
Public web site report	Report	D1	30/11/14	Completed on time	See IR
Management and action plan	Report	E1	31/12/14	Completed on time	See IR
Historical data (12 months) on gas network operation	Graphics	B1	31/05/15	Completed on time	See MR
Report on networking modelling	Maps	B1	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV e
Report on control and regulation device prototypes	Reports, drawings	B2	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV f
Report on network management and control software	Report	B3	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV g
Final test reports	Report	B4	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV h
Report on the calculation of gas leaks reduction	Report	B4	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV i
After life Communication plan	Report	E4	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV j
Conferences and fairs report	Report	D1	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV k
Final reports on measuring the environmental impacts	Report	C1	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV l
Final reports on socio-economic impact	Report	C2	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV m
Internal Monitoring report format	Report	E2	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV n
Layman report	Report	D1	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV o
Networking report	Report	E3	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV p
Specialized publications and newsletter	Report	D1	30/09/17	Completed on time	DLV q

	Task	Foreseen in the revised proposal	Achieved	Evaluation
ACTION B1	Definition of the network section on which to carry out testing and install approximately 10 data loggers to collect data	Fluid dynamic simulation of the gas distribution networks in the districts of Cesate and Albiate.	YES	5 critical points identified in the Cesate district network and 5 in the district of Albiate
	Availability of the effective network pressure value whenever needed, without direct measurement by on site technician.	Installation of 10 data loggers on the points of the networks identified as critical	YES	Configuration of devices with automatic data downloads implemented remotely (sampling every 15 minutes)
	Development and implementation of the network modelling software on the server at GR	The software model controls 100% of the planned area (Albiate and Cesate districts).	YES	Remote data collection testing; simulations.
	Network data collection	Network data collection was completed for 12 months (sampling frequency: 15 minutes)	YES	Data stored in the GR data logger and subsequent statistical and numerical processing.
ACTION B2	Development and installation of the control and regulation devices on the network (FIO Smart Unit device prototypes).	20 control devices were replaced in full and for the others it was sufficient to carry out modifications and partially replace subsystems (head or FIO kit or pilot).	YES	The following measurements were taken:
				- measurement of gas flow rate with 4% full scale precision
				- Automatic pressure regulation
				- Pressure monitoring with 1,0 % precision
				- Integrated GPRS communication with control and supervision centre.
				verification that the aforementioned performance levels are also maintained under real operating conditions
	Development of device prototypes independent power supply modules	The development of the microturbine project has to be developed through to the prototype stage and functional testing (laboratory and field tests).	YES	Step 1: Laboratory testing and definition of improvements to be implemented.
				Step 2: field testing on modified prototypes with positive results.
	Installation of photovoltaic system to independently power the control devices on the network.	The installation of 11 photovoltaic panels on the GRF units was planned.  Electricity from the grid is available for the remaining units.	YES	The panels were installed and provided the energy required throughout testing.
ACTION B3	Development of control algorithms	The algorithms were developed; implementation of planned functions, management and control functions 75% completed, they depend on the configuration of the devices installed on the network:  will therefore be completed in Action B4	YES	simulations to check functionality
	Implementation of network management software	implementation of planned functions 85% complete management and control functions not yet complete, they depend on the configuration of devices installed on the network:  will therefore be completed in Action B4	YES	simulations to check functionality
	Development of graphical user interfaces	Development of management and control functions 90% complete, they depend on the configuration of devices installed on the network:  will therefore be completed in Action B4	YES	simulations to check functionality
	Integration with GR cartographic software	Integration 100% complete	YES	simulations to check functionality
	System capacity to perform a modulation operation every minute (from the central unit to all regulation devices).	implementation of planned functions 100% complete	YES	simulations to check functionality
ACTIOM B4	- Possibility of monitoring and regulating the network continually in a reliable, precise manner	Management of the network for at least 12 months under the new control and regulation criteria	YES	Collection of network data and subsequent processing for 12 months.
	Reduction in gas leaks compared with the current situation: > 3.0 %	Processing of test data using the numerical model to estimate losses	YES	Based on the analysis of data measured in the field: Reduction in gas leaks
	Automatic network balancing: gas flows must never reverse within the network under any operating conditions	The management of the network under the new control and regulation criteria is planned in the coming months	YES	Analysis of the data
ACTION C1	Calculation of the reduction in gas leaks and therefore the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions	Reduction equivalent to at least 3%	Yes	Comparison between the data collected during the 12 months and the data during the final 12 months with the new management system
ACTION C2	Collection of possible socio-economic effects of the new product /process	Compilation of socio-economic impact report	YES	The report was completed in time (see DLV m).
ACTION D	Creation of the communication plan	Definition planned on 30/11/14	YES	See annex IR
	Website development	put online by 30/11/2014; gradual implementation of functions and information.	YES	2770 sessions, average of 3.45 pages/session;
				Average duration of 2.21 minutes;
				64.84% new sessions;
				Bounce rate 59.35%
	Attendance at trade fairs and events	Attendance at at least two industry trade fairs	YES	Attendance at
				WGC 2015 Paris
				EUW 2015 Wien
				EUW 2016 Barcellona
				Keyenergy 2016 Rimini
				International Gas Professional Meeting Croazia 2017
	Publications in specialist magazines	At least 1-2 publications in specialist magazines (at month 36)	YES	Article in CH4 (May - November 2015; 700 copie)
				Parliament Magazine (16/05/2016; 2500 copie + 23.500 followers)
				Platinum 2017 (luglio 17; 140.000 copie + 3,5 M consultazioni /mese)
				Canale Energia (12-19-26/10/15 e 5/11/15)
				See DLV q
	Final Project Conference	100 attendees are expected	YES	65 attendees
ACTION E1	Implementation of an activity control and monitoring system	Management of activities and control of project progress	YES	Regular coordination meetings
				Technical reports on activities implemented.
				The activity continued until the end of the project
	Implementation of the financial control system to monitor costs v. project budget	Control of costs incurred for each individual beneficiary and joint budget	YES	Regular update until the end of the project on costs for each beneficiary; completion of lists of details and summary
				totals
	SC meeting	SC meeting at least every six months; The activity will continue until the end of the project	YES	Eight SC meetings took place