Customers
Gas
‘Liquid air’ battery tech firm scales up to 50MW plant
Highview Power, the company promoting "liquid air" as a storage medium for surplus electrical energy, last week announced plans to construct the first commercial scale battery facility using the technology, at a decommissioned thermal power station in the north of England.
Heat
Dealing with a digitalised grid if the internet breaks down
What might happen to a digitalised grid if the internet breaks down? Phil Lawton, power systems practice manager at the Energy Systems Catapult, asks and answers a difficult question
Power
RIIO-ED2: a unique opportunity for change?
Christopher Watts, director for regulatory affairs at S&C Electric Company, discusses RIIO-ED2 and how the role of networks is changing.
Power
Moixa and Energia in bid to build ‘virtual power plant’ in Irish homes
Battery manufacturer Moixa has announced a tie-up with Irish energy supplier Energia to run trials on how integrated smart home batteries, rooftop solar and electric vehicles (EVs) can deliver flexibility to the grid.
Power
DNOs avoid penalties in Ofgem’s 2018/19 ICE connection review
Ofgem has given Distribution Network Operators a pass mark for their record on dealing with large-scale customer connections, with a decision not to levy penalties for 2018/19 under its Incentive on Connections Engagement (ICE) mechanism.
Gas
Utility Week Customer Summit
With customers at the heart of the utility industry's rapid and disruptive transformation, the future success of energy and water companies alike depends on their ability to successfully combine robust service provision with innovative ways to connect with customers. The 2020 Utility Week Customer Summit provides the only dedicated meeting place for forward-thinking customer professionals across the UK's utilities.
Gas
UK needs ‘Olympic’ delivery body to drive shift to net zero heating, says think tank
MPs and members of the public are equally in the dark over the urgency of decarbonising the heat network, raising the need to establish a powerful new body to coordinate the complex task, according to a report by cross-party think tank Policy Connect.
Gas
H21 project highlights potential of hydrogen
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has said that hydrogen is a credible option to help decarbonise the UK energy system. Network editor Alec Peachey examines the progress being made and some of the challenges that remain.
Power
Northern Powergrid trial charges up electric vans to replace emergency generators
Northern Powergrid is running a trial to use electric vans with on-board battery storage to replace diesel generators as a more sustainable means of restoring power to consumers during emergency works or power cuts.
Power
WPD signs 35 deals for 119MW in maturing flex market
Western Power Distribution (WPD) believes that the flexible generation market has matured, after announcing a strong response to its latest tender round.
Heat
Powervault tie-up drives Kaluza network expansion
Kaluza, the technology platform for smart energy devices launched by green power supplier OVO Group, has launched a new tie-up with Powervault, the UK based storage battery supplier.
Power
SP Energy Networks launches 95MW auction on Piclo Flex platform
Scottish Power Energy Networks has become the fourth distribution network operator (DNO) to enter into a partnership with the Piclo Flex online auction platform to support its move towards flexible energy trading.
Gas
Network Awards 2020: setting the standard
Following a successful inaugural year in 2019, the Network Awards will return on 17th March 2020, shining a light on the good work taking place across the UK's energy networks, their supply chains and stakeholders.
Power
Improving customer contact in the WhatsApp era
As National Customer Service Week draws to a close, Lisa Doogan, head of customer service and stakeholder strategy at Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, describes how it is improving communications with its 3.8 million customers in the north of Scotland and central southern England.
Gas
Decarbonisation progress slowing, Ofgem report shows
Ofgem has launched its annual State of the Market report, which shows that the UK continues to be a global leader in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, although progress is slowing.
Customers
ESC policy review into local energy markets
The Energy Systems Catapult is making businesses aware of the benefits and risks of participating in local energy markets through its policy review: The policy and regulatory context for new Local Energy Markets.
Gas
WPD maintains place at top of stakeholder engagement table
Western Power Distribution (WPD) has strengthened its place at the top of the industry table for stakeholder engagement and customer vulnerability in the annual Ofgem incentive.
Power
Device powers 45,000 homes with renewable energy
A device, which has freed up 95MW of additional electricity network capacity - enough to power 45,000 homes - has been successfully proven in the UK.
Power
EV smart charging providers pledge to open their networks
A group of electric vehicle (EV) smart charging solutions providers have pledged to open their networks for UK drivers through a "roaming partnership" by the end of this year.
Power
Renationalisation would risk UK missing net-zero target, report claims
Labour's plans for renationalising energy networks would put at risk the UK's efforts of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, according to a new report.
Gas
Drone trials hailed a success
A project, exploring how drone technology can be used to inspect network infrastructure, has completed the the first stage of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight trials in segregated airspace.
Heat
ADE director stands down
Dr Tim Rotheray has stepped down from his role as director of the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE).
Customers
EDF signs new EV co-operation agreement with Nissan
EDF Group has signed an agreement with Nissan to accelerate the delivery of electric vehicles (EVs), specifically through smart charging solutions.
Gas
Meeting demand
This section features regular interviews with small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) to highlight the work they're doing with networks and the types of technologies that are driving innovation forward. This month, Dr Matthew Trewhella - managing director of Kensa Contracting - is the focus.
Gas
Challenging the networks
As part of the RIIO2 price controls set out by Ofgem, network operators are required to set up independently chaired customer engagement groups (CEGs). As part of our Utility of the Future campaign, Network caught up with the chairs of four of these groups to find out more about their role and how they challenge the networks.
Gas
Understanding interconnectors
With post-Brexit energy trading arrangements still unresolved and Europe's connectivity lagging expectations, Fieldfisher energy experts David Haverbeke, Lis Blunsdon and Yohanna Weber, discuss why more attention needs to be focused on critical power infrastructure.
Power
Almost 100 apprentices start work at SSE
SSE is putting its latest generation of energy workers at the forefront of tackling climate change with the appointment of almost 100 apprentices who started work this week.
Gas
Solving the EV charging jigsaw
As DNOs present Ofgem with their electric vehicle (EV) readiness documents, illustrating how the transport revolution can be effectively managed, Patrick Erwin, policy and markets director at Northern Powergrid, outlines key policies that would ensure a fair, and properly managed transition.
Gas
Blackout report highlights need for review of security of supply standards
National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has suggested that there should be a review of the security and quality of supply standards (SQSS) to determine whether it is appropriate to provide higher levels of resilience in the UK's electricity system following last month's blackout.
Technology & Operations
Dealing with distributed energy
Active Network Management (ANM) has grown in sync with the rise of distributed energy over the last two decades. Dr Graham Ault, co-founder and executive director of Smarter Grid Solutions, provides an update on the current applications of ANM beyond flexible distributed generation (DG) connections and explores the current state of the ANM market in the UK.
Heat
Unlocking asset infrastructure
The UK's energy networks are under mounting pressure to accommodate new and increasing demands. From regulatory restrictions and the uptake of distributed generation to the increase in electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions, the challenges for existing asset infrastructure are varied and complex. Nadine Buddoo reports.
Downloads
How E.ON. is helping the City of London become a zero emissions city
Discover Citigen. Deep in the heart of our bustling capital
Downloads
Network explains heat networks
Commonplace in Europe and gaining in popularity here
Downloads
How E.ON. is helping the City of London become a zero emissions city
Discover Citigen. Deep in the heart of our bustling capital, E.ON. has created a hidden power station that can heat, cool and power the businesses of the future.