Technology & Operations
Technology & Operations
Innovation into BAU: three steps to success
It's always satisfying to see energy network operators' innovation projects turn - eventually - into 'business as usual'(BAU) and embedded in the everyday operation of the business, says Kelvatek's Jonathan Rodgers.
Gas
Hydrogen boilers, CCUS and biogas critical to net-zero heat, says ENA report
The government should mandate "hydrogen ready" boilers for new installations in domestic properties as part of a radical strategy to deliver a zero carbon heat network by 2050, concludes a major new report outlining a viable pathway for decarbonised heat in the UK.
Power
£15m Cairngorms undergrounding project seeks public votes
Residents and businesses living close to the Cairngorms National Park in north east Scotland are being invited to a public information event by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to find out more about undergrounding power lines in the park.
Power
Council scales up battery storage site to reap income rewards
A battery energy storage site operated by South Somerset District Council (SSDC) is set to expand to its maximum capacity by developing another 5MW to help produce and store more clean and renewable energy, providing support to the National Grid.
Gas
‘Liquid air’ battery tech firm scales up to 50MW plant
Highview Power, the company promoting "liquid air" as a storage medium for surplus electrical energy, last week announced plans to construct the first commercial scale battery facility using the technology, at a decommissioned thermal power station in the north of England.
Heat
Dealing with a digitalised grid if the internet breaks down
What might happen to a digitalised grid if the internet breaks down? Phil Lawton, power systems practice manager at the Energy Systems Catapult, asks and answers a difficult question
Power
Moixa and Energia in bid to build ‘virtual power plant’ in Irish homes
Battery manufacturer Moixa has announced a tie-up with Irish energy supplier Energia to run trials on how integrated smart home batteries, rooftop solar and electric vehicles (EVs) can deliver flexibility to the grid.
Gas
SSEN to purge greenhouse gas from circuit breakers
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission has declared its intention to phase out the greenhouse gas sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) - used to insulate circuit breakers in substations - by replacing it with a climate-friendly alternative air and vacuum system.
Power
Give EV drivers “right to roam” across networks, APPG chair urges
The MP chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Electric Vehicles has written an open letter to three major vehicle charging networks calling on them to adopt full roaming interoperability - and emphasising that government might force action if they fail to take the initiative.
Technology & Operations
Ofgem hits start on £1.9m energy data access project
Ofgem and Innovate UK are offering digital innovators £1.9m in funding to develop a software platform that will allow critical components of the flexible, digitised energy market to share data seamlessly.
Gas
“We need to retrain boiler engineers in low carbon heat skills”
With heat decarbonisation rising up the agenda, the UK needs a new programme to re-skill gas boiler engineers and plumbers in decarbonised heat technology, says Network Awards 2020 judge Lily Frencham of the Association for Decentralised Energy.
Power
Rolling out the Pollywood pole
Quentin Kopp, chairman of Pollywood, discusses a new way to make electricity poles using 85% less wood.
Power
Northern Powergrid trial charges up electric vans to replace emergency generators
Northern Powergrid is running a trial to use electric vans with on-board battery storage to replace diesel generators as a more sustainable means of restoring power to consumers during emergency works or power cuts.
Gas
Clean energy overtakes fossil fuel power in Q3
Electricity produced from wind, solar, biomass or hydro power exceeded electricity generated from fossil fuel sources in the third quarter of 2019, according to an analysis of government and industry data by climate change website Carbon Brief.
Heat
Adopting new technology: the view from Senergy
In our latest interview with small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) on their work with the networks, Network speaks to Senergy chief executive Christine Boyle MBE.
Power
Delivering the smart grid with bandwith for the future
The Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) is undertaking a project to address the bandwidth and security requirements for the smart grid. Kinan Ghanem, communications and systems integration lead, discusses how the project is progressing.
Heat
Powervault tie-up drives Kaluza network expansion
Kaluza, the technology platform for smart energy devices launched by green power supplier OVO Group, has launched a new tie-up with Powervault, the UK based storage battery supplier.
Power
SP Energy Networks launches 95MW auction on Piclo Flex platform
Scottish Power Energy Networks has become the fourth distribution network operator (DNO) to enter into a partnership with the Piclo Flex online auction platform to support its move towards flexible energy trading.
Technology & Operations
Testing substation circuit breakers safely
Damon Mount, UK and Southern Africa sales manager at Megger, discusses safety and accuracy when testing circuit breakers.
Power
Using big data to reduce vegetation risk
Shane Brunker, chief technology officer at NM Group, discusses the importance of vegetation management and how it can be used to improve network operators' storm resilience.
Gas
Decarbonisation progress slowing, Ofgem report shows
Ofgem has launched its annual State of the Market report, which shows that the UK continues to be a global leader in cutting greenhouse gas emissions, although progress is slowing.
Technology & Operations
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Heat
BEAMA launches national infrastructure campaign
BEAMA has launched a new campaign which is focused on creating a fit for purpose supply chain for critical national infrastructure.
Technology & Operations
Energy networks elaborate on transformation plans
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has published its response to an open letter from the government and Ofgem, which praised its efforts to transform the energy system through the Open Networks project but called for more "tangible changes".
Power
Brixton residents to trial smart ‘flexible energy’ project
A project run by UK Power Networks will see residents of a block of flats in Brixton be among the first domestic users in the UK to tap into the fast-emerging 'flexible energy' market.
Technology & Operations
Ofgem appoints Brearley as new chief executive
Jonathan Brearley has been appointed as the new chief executive of Ofgem.
Customers
ESC policy review into local energy markets
The Energy Systems Catapult is making businesses aware of the benefits and risks of participating in local energy markets through its policy review: The policy and regulatory context for new Local Energy Markets.
Technology & Operations
Energy Assets partners with Womens Utilities Network
Energy Assets is teaming up with the Womens Utilities Network (WUN) to encourage greater industry diversity and better careers progression for women in the utilities sector.
Power
City of London to get power boost
UK Power Networks is carrying out a £1.5 million project which will see more than 1,000 homes in the City of London benefit from a power upgrade.
Power
Siemens announces partnership with UK100
A network of mayors and council leaders is joining forces with Siemens to try to unlock a pipeline of clean energy projects worth more than £100bn as part of the UK's drive to meet net-zero emissions and the Paris Climate goals.
Gas
Innovators recognised at UK Energy Innovation Awards 2019
A number of innovators that are playing a role in supporting the UK to meet its net zero targets for greenhouse gas emission by 2050 were recognised at the UK Energy Innovation Awards last week.
Downloads
Protect electrical equipment from insulation failure
Insulation faults are a major cause leading to the eventual failure of electrical equipment. Partial discharge (PD) is a very reliable indicator of developing insulation faults. Regular PD testing allows users to detect and analyze PD activity
Downloads
How E.ON. is helping the City of London become a zero emissions city
Discover Citigen. Deep in the heart of our bustling capital
Downloads
The Innovation Factor: Managing the transition to smart communication technologies in the electricity distribution sector white paper
The transition from legacy communications systems to new technologies can seem daunting for organisations in the electricity sector. But with market dynamics changing rapidly