Features

EVs: a car park of storage

Features, Power, Technology Operations /

For electric vehicles (EVs) to achieve their maximum potential benefit for both the transport sector and the energy sector, closer collaboration between the two sectors is essential. So far, most of the learning around how EVs will affect DNOs has come from projects undertaken by DNOs themselves, but earlier this year automotive manufacturer Nissan launched a trial in the UK that could be of great benefit to DNOs.

EVs: a car park of storage Read More »

EVs: Can they help defer costly reinforcements?

Customers, Features, Power, Technology Operations /

Petrol stations will give way to commercial and public charging stations, and corporate packages to enable employees to charge while working will have become the norm. If brought to reality, the electric vehicle (EV) revolution will play a major role in enabling the country’s decarbonisation targets to be achieved, but it will not come without its challenges. For every internal combustion engine that is replaced by electric or plug-in hybrid, emissions will be reduced, but pressure on the electricity grid will increase.

EVs: Can they help defer costly reinforcements? Read More »

Examining blockchain

Customers, Features, Power, Technology Operations /

A blockchain is a decentralised data-ledger technology. That is, there is no central database, rather databases are held by multiple computers, each with an identical copy of the data. The system is maintained by a network of computers, in which successive data (in blocks of records) are first validated through a network consensus approach, and then added to the ledger. Each block in the chain contains a set of transactions represented by a hexadecimal ‘fingerprint’ known as a ‘hash’. This hash is passed on to the next block, thus creating the chain of blocks (see Figure 1 below). This enables computers on the network to easily verify whether any data in a block has been tampered with since altering the data within a block would affect its hash. The computers (called ‘nodes’) that participate in the network receive a complete copy of the blockchain, and stand as proof of every transaction ever executed on that particular system. The mutually validating network of nodes protect the coherence and integrity of the network and in doing so, avoid the need to use intermediaries to centralise all the data.

Examining blockchain Read More »

Energy trading and asset management in a ‘flex’ market

Customers, Features, Gas, Heat, Power, Strategy Management /

For a two week period in May 2019, Great Britain met its electricity needs without burning coal. This was the longest period that the country has gone coal-free since the 1880s. The coal-free fortnight followed a period of one week without coal earlier that month, and a further period of 90 hours without coal over the Easter weekend. According to Finton Slye, director at the National Grid Energy System Operator (ESO), this trend of providing for Great Britain’s energy needs without coal is the “new normal”.

Energy trading and asset management in a ‘flex’ market Read More »

Energy storage and smart cities

Features, Power, Technology Operations /

Although there is no clear definition for a “smart city”, the European Commission – Digital Single Market states that, “A smart city is a place where the traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital and telecommunication technologies for the benefit of its inhabitants and businesses. The concept goes beyond the use of ICT for better resource use and less emissions.”

Energy storage and smart cities Read More »

Subscribe
Subscribe