DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, has been appointed by Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network as owner’s engineer for the front-end engineering design (FEED) of Cadent’s ‘H2East Pipeline: Humber to Nottinghamshire’. This initial phase is a critical component of a project expected to anchor the UK’s emerging hydrogen transmission network, laying the groundwork for a system capable of supporting industrial decarbonisation, enhancing energy security and creating long-term regional employment.
The project will connect hydrogen production sites with industrial demand centres in South Humberside and Nottinghamshire, in the Northeastern UK. It will provide the first sections of the transmission capacity needed to decarbonise heavy industry and enable low-carbon dispatchable power.
DNV will review and assure the FEED contractor’s work to ensure the design is technically robust, buildable, and aligned with the safety and performance requirements specific to hydrogen. It will apply insights from its dedicated hydrogen testing facilities and research programmes (spanning material performance, repurposing studies, and safety modelling) to identify and resolve uncertainties early. This approach reduces project risk and prevents costly redesigns, ensuring the design can withstand rigorous regulatory, financial and operational scrutiny.
The appointment comes as the UK government and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) accelerate funding into hydrogen transportation infrastructure, where robust assurance is essential to ensure the credibility and long-term sustainability of strategic projects.
