Balmoral Show 2025
Foreword Welcome to our 2025 year in review. This newsletter reflects another year of meaningful progress, collaboration and growth as we continue working towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. It’s been another important year for the gas industry in Northern Ireland. At Evolve, we welcome the actions included on biomethane within the Energy Strategy Action Plan 2025, which underline the essential role this renewable gas will play in decarbonisation. It is somewhat frustrating that since the first-ever direct-to-grid injection on the island of Ireland, taking place on our network in 2023, progress has stalled largely due to the lack of a green gas subsidy. Northern Ireland continues to be an outlier from the the rest of the United Kingdom as well as Europe by not having a green gas subsidy in operation, however we remain optimistic that progress will be made in this regard next year. On the expansion front, we’re thrilled to mark another major milestone. In 2025, Evolve passed 5,000 connections, just five years after our network became fully operational. With over 35,000 properties now passed by our network, more and more communities in the west of Northern Ireland have access to gas, which is extremely encouraging. To support more people in making the switch to a cleaner, greener heating system, we continue to promote the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) as a valuable pathway via grants and cashback schemes. I’m delighted to say that we have allocated our entire NISEP budget in record time this year, further emphasising that customers in our network area now recognise that a gas connection is their best pathway forward.
Evolve attended the Balmoral Show for the second year in a row, where the company leaned on the “Gas is class!” messaging to attract passers-by into our stand. We spoke to a number of political representatives at the event, including Deborah Erskine MLA, Maolíosa McHugh MLA and former Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew. We used the opportunity to showcase the vital opportunity presented by biomethane in helping achieve Northern Irelands energy targets, both to high-level representatives and members of the public.
This year, we also introduced our “Boiler on the blink” campaign, bringing to life the everyday frustrations that families face when relying on ageing oil boilers. Blinky is already causing chaos throughout our network area and we look forward to engaging with our customers more and more via this concept in the year ahead. Our “Gas is class!” campaign put the spolight on our customers who’ve switched from oil to gas. Their stories, of comfort, reliability, and convenience, have resonated strongly, and these campaigns together continue to encourage thoughtful, positive transitions for homes across our network. Another highlight of the year was our return to the Balmoral Show. Our team had the opportunity to meet landowners, farmers, elected officials, and potential new customers, and to discuss the role our network can play in supporting local communities and future biomethane production. As always, I want to thank everyone who has supported us throughout the year. Your engagement, feedback and partnership have made a real difference. I wish you all a very happy and restful festive period, and I look forward to working together with you all again in 2026. Sincerely,
David Butler David Butler Director, Evolve
evolvenetwork.co.uk
Annual Update 2025
Page 2
Page 3
Annual Update 2025
evolvenetwork.co.uk
Launch of the “Gas is class!” campaign In early 2025, Evolve launched the “Gas is class!” marketing campaign, with the aim of highlighting the various benefits of gas to potential customers. We travelled all around the vast network area, from Enniskillen to Magherafelt, to speak with existing customers to get their views on their innovative new heating systems. The feedback we received was unanimous, but you can find out what some of them had to say here, here, and here. Raymond and Louise, Omagh
“It’s pure handy and convenient” Chris, Magherafelt
Dungannon, we have some good news...
Get yo ur
light bu
lb
s3 Plus, yo u ma
Instant hot water
Wave goodbye to your immersion heater
Dependable
Have confidence that you’ll never run out
Control your costs
Pay as you go from as little as £5
Safe & secure
A piped supply gives you instant, reliable access at all times
grant
Reduce your carbon footprint Take the step into a cleaner future
tion2
Gas is class!
y be e • Free ligible to rece • High gas meter an ive: • Ho efficiency bo d connectio t water n2 iler up • Rem ta grade ote sm nk jacket • Dra ar ught-p t heating contro SCAN • Low roofin ls ME g -f • Radi low/eco sh measures ow ator re Discov flectiv er head er if yo e pane grant u’r or conn e eligible ls fo sc
ection r annin offer by a a quick g the QR co de. survey to lea Complete rn mor Altern e! atively, team yo u ca on 08 n call 00 97 5 7774 the
*Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability.
“It’s so co the ho sy in use” Paulin
“Cooking is much handier” Rosa, Omagh
today !
As we 1 ll as re ceivin offer 1 ga fo or Wa r a gas conv fully funde rm at d e rs g ra io n Ho nt energ y effic me Cashb through the or 60% cash a iency measu ck scheme Warm at Ho back • Loft s, m res, in insula • Ca cludin you will rece e Plus vity w tion 2 g : ive all insu • LED la
that you could be We're excited to let you know gas conversion or a 60% eligible for a fully funded 1 the switch to a simpler, g makin cashback offer when heating system! smarter and more convenient
1. Terms
e, Stra
and con
ditions
bane
apply . Subjec t to ava
ilability . 2. Sub
ject to site
survey . 3. Up
to fou
r bulbs
per pro
perty.
Gas is class!
“The water pressure is much better” Inga, Coalisland
Brendan, Cookstown
evolvenetwork.co.uk
Annual Update 2025
Page 4
Page 5
Annual Update 2025
evolvenetwork.co.uk
Blinky unleashed! This year saw Blinky make his debut, a concept we have been working on for some time. Blinky brings to life the frustrations caused by an old and unreliable boiler. We rolled out a full suite of marketing activity for the launch, including TV and radio advertising, a significant outdoor campaign and leaflet drops, all of which helped generate a very positive response from customers. Watch the TV ad here.
evolvenetwork.co.uk
Annual Update 2025
Page 6
Page 7
Annual Update 2025
evolvenetwork.co.uk
How a smart switch to gas is powering local communities in Strabane
Celebrating 5,000 gas connections in just five years
In Strabane, every penny saved at the local community centre can mean more support for grassroots projects and vital services. For the past eight years, Ivan Barr has been the Community Development Officer at Melmount Community Forum, an umbrella organisation supporting seven groups across the area.
This year marked a major milestone as our network reached 5,000 customer connections, just five years after our network became fully operational. With more than 35,000 properties now passed, our network continues to expand, giving even more households the opportunity to switch to a cleaner, greener heating system. Read more here.
“The more we can save on our outgoings, making things more economical, the more that money can go into projects and programmes for the community. Funding for Like many charities, they’re operating on tight charities isn’t what it used to be, so we have to budgets. When the opportunity to switch from look after the pennies.” oil to gas came along, Ivan saw real potential. With a focus on efficiency, long-term savings, Read more here, and watch the video here. and minimal disruption, the move has helped transform how the centre operates, freeing up both funds and space to reinvest back into the heart of the community. “Given today’s technology, I was very keen to hear more about the ability to zone certain rooms off. We have an office suite and two activity rooms, so now I can heat only the areas in use. It’s save, save, save for the centre and the charity,” Ivan explained.
What do our customers have to say?
Pauline, Strabane
More and more people are making the switch to gas, and the convenience of using an app helps us save money. It’s fantastic to be able to control everything from my phone, whether I need to turn it on or off, or warm up the house before I return from work. That’s one of the main advantages of gas for me.
William, Cookstown
evolvenetwork.co.uk
“
“
“
“
I was so impressed by how straightforward the whole process was. The team at Evolve made everything so simple and easy. They were friendly, helpful, and ensured everything was running as it should. I didn’t have to worry about a thing.
The ability to reduce running costs while improving the building’s heating efficiency was a major factor in making the switch.
Annual Update 2025
Page 8
Page 9
Annual Update 2025
evolvenetwork.co.uk
Christmas message
Evolve becomes associate member of Future Energy Networks This year, Evolve was proud to become an associate member of Future Energy Networks (FEN) as the organisation marked its first anniversary. This partnership strengthens our role in wider UK energy discussions and supports our commitment to decarbonisation. Read more here.
The team at Evolve extends warm wishes for a pleasant festive season and a prosperous new year. We look forward to building on our work together in 2026.
Positive steps taken to progress biomethane development in Northern Ireland Evolve welcomed the steps taken by the NI Executive within the Energy Strategy Action Plan 2025 to further drive biomethane’s integration into the energy system. Evolve, alongside the other gas network operators in Northern Ireland, has carried out extensive work to highlight the benefits of transitioning fully to biomethane over the next few years – this research can be found in Evolve’s ‘Accelerating a biomethane economy’ whitepaper from 2024. Read more here.
evolvenetwork.co.uk
Annual Update 2025
Page 10
Page 11
Annual Update 2025
evolvenetwork.co.uk
Annual update 2025