Strategy & Management
Power
Northern Powergrid teams up with troops in flood-hit Doncaster
Northern Powergrid is supporting customers in the village of Fishlake, Doncaster, affected by last weekend's flooding, while also preparing for more heavy rain forecast across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire for the end of this week.
Gas
Getting green networks up to speed
Decarbonising heat will involve a future switch to hydrogen, but how should that hydrogen be produced? And as consumers and businesses adopt EVs and take to the roads, are the network operators fully prepared? Tom Grimwood reports on the topics that topped the agenda at this year's Network Asset Performance Conference in Birmingham
Power
ENW adds network capacity ahead of net-zero 2038 commitment
Electricity North West has announced the start of work to add capacity to the power network in south Manchester in support of the £7m South Manchester Enterprise Zone project.
Power
EDF buys storage-to-charging challenger Pivot Power
EDF Group has announced a deal to acquire Pivot Power, the UK battery storage start-up with a programme to develop 40 sites of 50MW storage capacity, each combined with rapid charging services for the road transport network.
Gas
Grenfell report praises Cadent operation to seal gas mains
"Clarity of planning and careful execution" allowed Cadent gas engineers to cut off three gas mains near to Grenfell Tower at the height of the emergency, helping to bring the fire under control after gas sustained the fire in its later phases, the official inquiry has found.
Gas
Wales and West signs up to Welsh ‘net-zero ready’ 2035 target
Wales and West Utilities, the gas distribution network operator for Wales, has become the first company to sign up to the Welsh government's Climate Change Pledge, committing itself to having a "net-zero ready" gas network by 2035.
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
Lights and heating will stay on after Brexit, National Grid says
National Grid's latest Systems Outlook Report offers reassurance that the domestic gas and electricity networks will have enough supply to meet winter demand even if Dutch and Belgian gas interconnectors were cut off on "day one" of a no deal exit.
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.
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
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.
Heat
Accelerating the EV revolution
Matthew Boulton, chief commercial officer at Pivot Power, discusses how the company is working at a local level to speed up the decarbonisation of transport.
Gas
Turning ambition into action
The launch of SSEN Transmission's draft business plan includes an ambition to tackle climate change, connect more renewable energy and transport it across the country. Managing director Rob McDonald tells Network editor Alec Peachey how the company is going to achieve this.
Gas
Achieving the right climate
With the Government committing to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the UK to almost zero by 2050, networks will be key in the facilitation of decarbonisation. Here, Network puts a special focus on the topic of decarbonisation as part of its Network of the Future campaign.
Heat
Overcoming challenges faced by SMEs
The challenges facing small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) when it comes to engaging with energy networks are wide and varied. Alec Peachey reports on a roundtable debate hosted in association with the Energy Systems Catapult.
Power
Data is key to delivering smarter DSOs
Phil Dingle, marketing director at Lucy Electric, discusses using data to deliver benefits for network operators.
Power
An effective way to reduce cable failures
Tony Walker, applications engineer for HV cable diagnostics and fault location at Megger, discusses the benefits of partial discharge (PD) testing.
Power
Reclaiming and recognising asset management
In an ever-changing energy system landscape, the ability to manage assets is often high up on the agenda for utility companies. During a roundtable event - organised by Network in association with Siemens - key figures from the industry met to discuss asset management. Adam John reports.
Gas
The future of utility quality assurance
With the growing investment in domestic and commercial developments alongside the daily replacement and repair of our network assets, quality installation procedures and conformance to industry standards has never been more important for the future performance of our infrastructure. Mark Pereira, marketing manager at ControlPoint, discusses.
Strategy & Management
Reorganisation for Ofgem
System operation and networks is one of three divisions that will make up Ofgem's new streamlined organisational structure.
Strategy & Management
SGN’s ‘future leaders’ complete management course
Employees from SGN have completed their Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) course after delivering their final presentations to colleagues and mentors.
Power
New energy market would put customers at heart of smart grid
Northern Powergrid is aiming to create a new energy market where its customers can make money from solar panels, electric vehicles and home batteries.
Power
UK Power Networks launches annual review
The chief executive of UK Power Networks says the company has moved closer than ever to its "goal of becoming the best performing distribution network operator" following the launch of its annual review.
Gas
Preparing for winter
David Smith, chief executive of the Energy Networks Association (ENA), discusses being 'Winter Ready'.
Heat
Helm report: Solution or just another input?
Duncan Botting, managing director of Global Smart Transformation, gives his view on the Dieter Helm report.
Gas
ENA launches next stage of innovation strategy plans
Plans to put gas and electricity grids at the forefront of energy innovation have moved forward with the energy industry invited to take part in a number of workshop events in November.
Power
Executives worried cyber-attacks could bring down grids
Almost two thirds of utility executives believe their country faces a "moderate risk" of electricity supply interruption from a cyber-attack over the next five years, according to new research.
Gas
SSE warns network profits set to fall
SSE has predicted a drop in profits from its network operations due to the timing of investments and the partial sale of its stake in SGN.
Gas
Energy networks unveil plans for joint innovation strategies
The UK's energy networks have unveiled plans to develop their first ever joint innovation strategies - one each for gas and electricity.
Power
Enel takes over Enernoc in $250m deal
A US subsidiary of Italian utility firm Enel has taken full ownership of the demand-side response provider Enernoc after purchasing all outstanding shares in the company for $250 million (£193 million).
Power
Britain’s energy sector targeted by ‘state-sponsored’ hackers
The energy sector in the UK has likely been targeted by "state-sponsored" hackers, a leaked report issued by GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned.
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How will Energy Storage be deployed?
How will Energy Storage be deployed? While there's a myriad of possible approaches to the deployment of energy storage
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How will Energy Storage be deployed?
How will Energy Storage be deployed? While there's a myriad of possible approaches to the deployment of energy storage, innovative business models are already emerging.