Reshaping the energy landsdcape

Gas

Reshaping the energy landsdcape

Mark Brackley, National Grid's project RIIO2 director, reflects on the challenges for the RIIO2 regulatory period and how the industry can help shape National Grid's business plans.

ENA launches gas and electricity innovation strategies

Gas

ENA launches gas and electricity innovation strategies

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has launched its electricity and gas network innovation strategies.

Shaping the FLEXIS vision

Gas

Shaping the FLEXIS vision

FLEXIS (Flexible Integrated Energy Systems) is a £24.5 million research operation designed to develop an energy systems research capability in Wales which will build on the world class capability that already exists in Welsh universities. FLEXIS principal investigator Phil Bowen looks at who is involved and what progress is being made.

Collaboration in action

Gas

Collaboration in action

Cadent chief executive Chris Train talks about the importance of gas and electricity network operators working together. There's also a look at the Priority Services Register - a cross-industry initiative designed to help vulnerable customers.

UKPN reveals next steps toward a smart future

Gas

UKPN reveals next steps toward a smart future

UK Power Networks', the UK's largest electricity distribution network, has revealed the next steps in its plans to transform its network into a smart, flexible grid.

New meter can measure performance of heat networks

Heat

New meter can measure performance of heat networks

A new smart meter that has been designed to improve residents' experience of living on heat networks has been launched by Guru Systems.

UK missing opportunity to decarbonise energy sector

Gas

UK missing opportunity to decarbonise energy sector

The UK will not achieve its aim of decarbonising the energy sector unless it acts now to adopt a whole system approach, according to Jonathan Chapman - UK managing director of Burns & McDonnell.

Network launches editorial board

Gas

Network launches editorial board

Network has launched an editorial advisory board which is made up of key figures from the sector.

Open Networks Project picks up the pace

Gas

Open Networks Project picks up the pace

Randolph Brazier, head of innovation at the Energy Networks Association, updates readers on the progress of the Open Networks Project - a major pan-industry initiative to set out the changing roles and responsibilities of network companies.

National Grid launches ‘Future of Gas’ report

Gas

National Grid launches ‘Future of Gas’ report

National Grid has launched a report which highlights the role gas plays in the UK.

IME wants networks to improve digital infrastructure

Heat

IME wants networks to improve digital infrastructure

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has called for new levels of digital resilience and reliability to be built into electricity networks, including protection against hackers.

Man cheats death after coming into contact with power line

Heat

Man cheats death after coming into contact with power line

Electricity North West has issued a safety warning after a man cheated death when he came into contact with a live 11,000-volt power line during the extreme weather.

SPEN launches £15m Green Economy Fund

Heat

SPEN launches £15m Green Economy Fund

SP Energy Networks has unveiled a new £15 million fund which is aimed at kick starting the way both transport and heating is powered in Scotland.

Trial to explore blending of hydrogen into gas network

Gas

Trial to explore blending of hydrogen into gas network

A trial which will explore the potential blending of hydrogen into the gas network will get underway at Keele University next year.

Transforming the network

Heat

Transforming the network

Network continues its look at projects awarded funding from Ofgem's Network Innovation Competition (NIC) and the Network Innovation Allowance (NIA). Alec Peachey speaks to Colin Taylor, director of processes and technology at SP Energy Networks, about their recent awards.

Building relationships with network customers

Heat

Building relationships with network customers

Paul Bircham, commercial strategy and support director at Electricity North West, talks about how the company is building relationships with network customers.

The freedom to decarbonise heat

Gas

The freedom to decarbonise heat

Chris Clarke, director of asset management and HSE, Wales and West Utilities, discusses the decarbonisation of heat.

EI report reveals gas industry’s views on climate change

Gas

EI report reveals gas industry’s views on climate change

A new report published by the Energy Institute (EI) reveals the attitudes of global oil and gas professionals towards reducing the climate change impacts of natural gas.

Making the case for heat network funding

Gas

Making the case for heat network funding

Ian Manders - UK energy policy advisor, Danish Embassy London, makes the case for appropriate consideration of social housing in UK government funding of efficient heat networks.

DSOs and data

Heat

DSOs and data

Eighty-five billion. That is the number of data points collected by GridKey, the award-winning substation monitoring system developed by Lucy Electric and Sentec. To put that in perspective, that's the equivalent of approximately 1,300 spreadsheets of information. If data is one of the keys to the smart grid, how can we avoid drowning in it? Ben Hargreaves finds out.

Could hydrogen be used to power homes?

Gas

Could hydrogen be used to power homes?

Arup is leading a UK government project examining the feasibility of phasing out the use of natural gas for domestic use by converting homes to hydrogen fuel. Mark Neller, associate director and project director for Arup+, provides Network with an overview.

ETI calls for rethink over heat

Gas

ETI calls for rethink over heat

The Energy Technology Institute (ETI) says consumers could be ready to move to low-carbon heat, but only if industry rethinks the consumer proposition.

Home is where the heat is

Gas

Home is where the heat is

Network Magazine, in association with Utility Week and the Energy Systems Catapult recently hosted a roundtable event where the subject of new business models for the decarbonisation of heat was discussed. Alice Cooke reports.

Going digital: the hidden wealth of grids

Heat

Going digital: the hidden wealth of grids

Bernard Magee, head of strategy and marketing for power networks at Siemens Energy Management, discusses the benefits of digitalisation when it comes to sharing data.

Heat Trust consults on plans to open up customer scheme

Gas

Heat Trust consults on plans to open up customer scheme

Heat Trust has put forward plans to allow more heat networks to sign up to its customer protection scheme.

New taskforce makes the case for heat networks

Heat

New taskforce makes the case for heat networks

A new Heat Network Task Force has given the government its recommendations for growing the sector and protecting customers.

£12.3m invested in South East Wales’ gas network

Gas

£12.3m invested in South East Wales’ gas network

Gas emergency and pipeline service, Wales & West Utilities, has announced that last year it invested more than £12.3 million to upgrade the gas network across the South East Wales region.

ENA invites feedback on Open Networks Project

Gas

ENA invites feedback on Open Networks Project

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) is inviting feedback on its Open Networks Project - a major pan-industry initiative to set out the changing roles and responsibilities of network companies.

Learning from Norway

Heat

Learning from Norway

Mark Thompson, senior innovation lead - energy systems at Innovate UK, looks at what the UK can learn from Norway when it comes to the deployment of electric vehicles.

Northern Powergrid carrying out £83m smart grid upgrade

Heat

Northern Powergrid carrying out £83m smart grid upgrade

Northern Powergrid is set to carry out a major network upgrade programme worth £83 million.

£7.7m invested in Exeter’s gas network last year

Gas

£7.7m invested in Exeter’s gas network last year

Wales & West Utilities invested more than £7.7 million to upgrade the gas network across Exeter and the surrounding area last year.