The technology surrounding energy consumption and storage is receiving a huge amount of investment. So, why is it not the same for the operational models that will be needed to support these new technologies?
Energy storage: Delivering power locally Read More »
The energy industry is going through major transformational change driven by the need to decarbonise and enable the UK to hit its targets under the Climate Change Act 2008. Whilst the initial focus on meeting carbon budgets has been through the decarbonisation of power resulting in the closure of coal stations and decentralisation of generation through the deployment of renewables; these actions in themselves will not achieve the targets.
Energy and transport integration Read More »
Energy utilities are increasingly focused on establishing solutions to support enhanced flexibility in service provision whilst at the same time managing a much more dynamic environment of energy supply and demand. Critical to managing this new regime in a cost efficient and resilient manner is the ability to have visibility and control over an increasingly diverse and disparate range of network assets. For many years, utilities – gas, water and electricity – have used operational communications systems to facilitate active management of assets. However, with the need for enhanced visibility and control across and through the network it is anticipated that there will need to be a profound expansion in the industry’s operational communications capability with some operators already exploring possible solutions. The need for such expanded communication systems with enhanced functionality will result in increased complexity in terms of network design and co-ordination with new technologies being deployed.
Enabling the smart energy networks of the future Read More »
Government demands for decarbonisation, a changing energy landscape of renewables, demand-side response, battery storage, the growth of electric vehicles and advances in digital technology require the use of innovative tools and techniques. These include: IoT, web-based customer self-service, blockchain, geospatial and even space-based technologies such as Earth Observation to enable the transition of distribution network operators (DNOs) to distribution system operators (DSOs) and the creation of the smart grid.
Enabling the smart grid Read More »
Ofgem’s stakeholder engagement (and consumer vulnerability) incentive is a reward only annual panel assessment which applies to all network companies, across gas and electricity in both distribution and transmission.
For any distribution network operator (DNO), customer service and satisfaction are priorities. If there is an outage or failure, they want to seem responsive – giving timely updates and information on the resolution. To do that, they are investing in new technologies to improve the design, operation and maintenance of distribution networks everywhere.
Electricity distribution networks – a new model for a new age Read More »
The number of grid-rechargeable electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) sold in the UK has doubled between 2015 and 2016 (Fig. 1). Globally, the statistics on EV adoption display the early signs of an exponential curve. Management scientists call this the S-pattern of new technology adoption: smart phones, hybrid vehicles, and the Internet have all followed similar trajectories. If EV growth continues at this rate, by 2018 we could see over 100,000 new plug-in vehicles per year being sold in the UK.
Electric vehicles: friend or foe? Read More »
It’s difficult to know where to start with innovation, especially when your sector is in the throes of change which reaches both broadly and deeply into operations and market structures. When almost every aspect of your business is challenged, how do you prioritise work on transformation and adaptation?
Editor’s weekly: Asset performance is an innovation priority Read More »
