Technology & Operations
Heat
Accelerated deployment could exacerbate design issues, warns heat industry
Parts of the heat network supply chain are not ready for the accelerated deployment that is likely to be driven by the £320 million funding awarded through the Heat Networks Investment Project, industry has warned.
Heat
£39m pilot launches heat networks investment project
The first stage of the £320 million Heat Networks Investment project announced by the government last year has been launched with a £39 million pilot scheme.
Technology & Operations
National Grid to upgrade substation control system
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is set to upgrade 10% of its substations in England and Wales with the Locamation SAS2000 centralised substation control system.
Gas
Murphy starts substation build for new CHP plant
J Murphy & Sons has completed the first phase of utility installations for a new biomass CHP power plant in Northumberland and will now begin construction of the plant substation.
Heat
AIM high
Planning and modelling software is developing rapidly, says EA Technology’s Paul Barnfather.
Gas
Next generation automation
Automation of power distribution is about to take a leap forward, says Schneider Electric’s John Langley-Davis.
Technology & Operations
EIC launches innovation “lab” programme
The Energy Innovation Centre has announced it will deliver a new series of workshops for gas and power network operators to help them improve innovation culture, process and strategy.
Power
ABB brings “plug and play” microgrid solution to market
Global technology company ABB has launched a new modular offering to support the easy operation of microgrids.
Gas
Top performance
Operational leaders discuss how to optimise network assets in the changing energy landscape
Power
Northern Powergrid increases online access with audio service
Distribution network operator Northern Powergrid has made accessing its website easier for customers by including the new Browsealoud service, which offers guided audio narration.
Gas
ABB and Fluor join forces for energy revolution
ABB and global engineering firm Fluor have announced a partnership which will enhance their ability to deliver smart substation projects globally.
Gas
Trending; robotics, modelling and analytics and decentralised energy
Technological advances are changing the face of energy networks and allowing them to respond in new ways to existing and unprecedented challenges. In this technology round-up, Network examines three trends making a big impact on network operations today.
Gas
Big Bang; bringing safety to gas
At DNV GL’s Spadeadam site, gas engineers can feel the full force of the kind of gas disaster they hope they’ll never face.
Gas
Moixa launches solar storage scheme
Home battery storage company Moixa has launched a solar storage offer to protect households from rising prices.
Gas
Moixa launches solar storage scheme
Home battery storage company Moixa has launched a solar storage offer to protect households from rising prices.
Customers
Labour conference: Domestic DSR gains will be ‘limited’
The potential gains from domestic demand side response (DSR) are “limited”, an energy expert told delegates at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Technology & Operations
Editor’s weekly: Asset performance is an innovation priority
On 21 September Network hosted it's first conference which showed why asset management and performance strategies need to be at the core of energy system innovation.
Power
Energy storage and smart cities
The urban centres of tomorrow will be microgrids which will require the support of energy storage technology say Dr Alex Mardipittas.
Power
UK sees first Tesla grid-scale storage installation in Europe
The first Tesla grid-scale Powerpack installation in Europe is to be installed at a solar PV site in Somerset by large-scale storage developer Camborne Energy Storage.
Gas
Grid-injected biomethane industry receives boost
The nascent biomthane industry has received a boost by being recognised as a valid method for a business to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Power
Northern Powergrid restores power to 28,000 following lightening
Northern Powergrid has restored power to 28,000 of the 38,000 customers who lost power this morning across its network due to lightning storms.
Heat
Fluid movement: new transformer fluids are shifting asset risk profiles
It’s time to change conventional thinking about transformer fluids and realise opportunities to mitigate asset risk, argues a new white paper.
Power
UKPN enables electric bus rollout
UK Power Networks (UKPN) has enabled the rollout of 51 single decker electric buses in central London.
Gas
SME crowdsourcing is driving innovation says EIC
The Energy Innovation centre’s (EIC) “call for evidence” is successfully driving the formation of innovation partnerships between energy networks operators and SME organisations.
Power
Editor’s weekly: Who you gonna call?
The launch of 105 was a welcome event and the number will be a comfort to networks and customers alike as winter approaches. However, some challenges remain for the new service.
Power
RedT to develop first vanadium hybrid storage system
Energy storage technology company RedT is to develop a hybrid energy storage system capable of offering the full range of storage applications to the electricity grid.
Gas
New kid on the block: an interview with Peter Emery
Peter Emery, chief executive of Electricity North West, talks to Network about industry innovation structures and DNO reward.
Power
National 105 power cut number launched
Electricity network distributors have joined forces to launch a new three-digit national number to make it easier for customers to contact their local distributor and report power cuts and damage to power assets.
Power
UKPN investigates DNO obligations for domestic storage
Electricity network operator UK Power Networks (UKPN) is to investigate what will be required of DNOs to enable the safe installation of domestic energy storage systems.
Power
Second-life storage market will explode post-2020
The volume of lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles (EV) available for second-life storage systems will explode from 2020, as the EV market starts to mature.
Power
Fit for digital
Transmission substations are going through a radical evolution as digital technologies take hold, says ABB’s Danny Lyonnette.
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