Keeping networks safe
It’s not by chance that the UK’s energy networks are the safest they have ever been.
Keeping networks safe Read More »
It’s not by chance that the UK’s energy networks are the safest they have ever been.
Keeping networks safe Read More »
A key criticism of heat networks is that they are natural monopolies. This is also the case for electricity distribution and gas and water networks, hence their regulated profits.
Keeping our options open Read More »
Utility Week Live set my head spinning. Numerous stands and speakers set out their roadmaps to a greener future, championing innovation and new business opportunities. Very impressive – yet why was it so unconvincing?
It’s the wrong kind of disruption Read More »
When chancellor George Osborne launched the National Infrastructure Commission in the autumn of last year, it had been a long time coming.
Join the dots: a talk with the NIC’s Philip Graham Read More »
A year ago the future dominance of electric vehicles would have been regarded by many as an “if” not “when”. But in the interim we have had a conveyor belt of announcements by automotive manufacturers, governments and even petrochemical companies with hard commitments to this agenda. The debate has now flipped to one of how quickly this transition will now occur. The mid 20s are talked of as the boom time, but with EV battery capacity rising at an extraordinary rate and the choice of vehicles increasing almost monthly, this could come sooner. EV affordability is also much less of an issue than most people appreciate as in the region of 90 per cent of new EVs are “bought” on surprisingly competitive personal lease deals.
“The costs of carbon capture and storage must come down if it is to play a part in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s economy.”
Is CCS worth the candle? Read More »
Cloud computing is big business. Amazon’s AWS division, the industry’s largest cloud provider, is fast approaching the $10 billion mark in annual revenue, earned by selling computing capacity to businesses and public sector organisations around the world.
Is critical infrastructure destined for the cloud? Read More »
Network’s recent feature on energy systems integration – Building the Dream – was informed in part by an interview with Energy Systems Catapult chief executive Philip New.
Integration imperative: Q&A with Philip New Read More »
“This price control comes at a crucial time of tackling climate change – the most urgent challenge facing the planet with Britain well placed to be at the forefront of global efforts to reduce carbon emissions,” Pettifer (pictured) explains. “National Grid, believes this must be tackled through collaborative efforts. We need to see much greater progress in making areas like heat and transport cleaner and at a low cost for our planet and energy users. That is why our gas innovation projects are looking at how we can use hydrogen in our networks to support the low carbon transition and bring down costs for consumers. We are also making sure that the right electric vehicle charging infrastructure is in place across the country, to facilitate a rise in electric vehicles on our roads. To reduce electric vehicle range anxiety and improve uptake, we have identified 54 locations for strategic ultra-rapid charging along the motorway network. These can charge a car in the time it takes to buy a coffee. Ultimately, we need to transition to a new low-carbon, low-cost energy system where consumers can see the clear benefits of the energy transmission networks.”
Investing in the energy decarbonisation transformation benefits consumers Read More »
The electricity and gas networks are no longer the hidden heroes of the energy industry. Over the last few years they have been steadily improving their service for the public – delivering lower cost and more reliable power and gas than ever before. Power cuts are fewer and shorter while the gas network is so reliable that the probability of an unplanned supply interruption is once every 140 years.
Innovation for the nation Read More »