Technology & Operations

Network project update w/c 29 July 2019

Power

Network project update w/c 29 July 2019

With various network upgrades and projects taking place across the UK Network provides a roundup for the week commencing 29 July.

Northern Gas Networks running ‘heating for health’ trial

Gas

Northern Gas Networks running ‘heating for health’ trial

Northern Gas Networks and National Energy Action are running a year-long trial to find out if warmer homes can improve health and wellbeing.

Start date announced for new Cadent boss

Technology & Operations

Start date announced for new Cadent boss

Steve Fraser will take up his new role as chief executive of Cadent from 2 September.

WPD signs demand side management agreement with Anesco

Customers

WPD signs demand side management agreement with Anesco

Western Power Distribution (WPD) has signed a demand side management agreement with battery storage provider Anesco.

Electricity North West owners sell 50% stake in business

Gas

Electricity North West owners sell 50% stake in business

The owners of Electricity North West have sold a 50% share of the business to investors composed of Equitix and a consortium led by Kansai Electric Power Co.

ENW highlights innovative schemes to Ofgem

Customers

ENW highlights innovative schemes to Ofgem

Electricity North West recently showcased some of its innovative projects to senior figures from energy regulator Ofgem.

Leadsom gets top job at BEIS

Technology & Operations

Leadsom gets top job at BEIS

Andrea Leadsom has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Clark leaves BEIS

Technology & Operations

Clark leaves BEIS

Greg Clark has left his role as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy this evening (24 July).

SP Energy Networks reveals net zero plans

Gas

SP Energy Networks reveals net zero plans

SP Energy Networks has revealed plans to help cities, towns and rural communities across Scotland achieve 'net zero' - including the electrification of transport networks.

50MW battery will help power £41m Energy Superhub

Heat

50MW battery will help power £41m Energy Superhub

A 50MW grid-scale battery that can store enough electricity to supply nearly 6,000 homes for a day from a single charge will be built at Cowley electricity sub-station, supporting a new £41 million Energy Superhub in Oxford.

Leep Utilities awarded contract to power Liverpool’s waterfront

Gas

Leep Utilities awarded contract to power Liverpool’s waterfront

Leep Utilities has been awarded a contract to own and operate a new electricity network that will power a development on Liverpool's waterfront.

Smith Brothers signs framework agreement with Vattenfall

Power

Smith Brothers signs framework agreement with Vattenfall

Smith Brothers and Vattenfall Networks have signed both an Independent Contract Provider (ICP) alliance and framework service maintenance agreement for the provision of services relating to forthcoming utilities projects.

Raft of measures designed to transform energy system

Gas

Raft of measures designed to transform energy system

The government has published a package of proposed measures to support the decarbonisation of the UK's energy system.

Denmark interconnector to move into construction phase

Power

Denmark interconnector to move into construction phase

A 1.4GW high voltage direct current interconnector that will stretch 472 miles from the Lincolnshire coast to Western Denmark will move into the construction phase after cable and converter station suppliers were chosen.

Ofgem hits back over climate change criticism

Gas

Ofgem hits back over climate change criticism

Ofgem has hit back following criticism that it is out of touch over climate change.

BEIS unveils £80m EV investment

Power

BEIS unveils £80m EV investment

An £80 million investment to help develop the next generation of electric vehicles has been unveiled by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Ofgem chairman visits heat network

Gas

Ofgem chairman visits heat network

Ofgem chairman Martin Cave recently visited Energetik's energy centre in Arnos Grove to find out more about Enfield Council's heat network company, its best practice and how it protects customers.

Ofgem’s RIIO2 proposals could hinder net zero plans

Gas

Ofgem’s RIIO2 proposals could hinder net zero plans

The chief executive of the Energy Networks Association (ENA) says Ofgem's current proposals for RIIO2 could have a negative impact on the regulator's ability to support and facilitate the government's net zero ambitions.

EV smart charging marketplace trial launched

Power

EV smart charging marketplace trial launched

UK Power Networks has launched a new trial called Shift that will see up to 1,000 electric vehicle owners offered financial incentives to charge their vehicle off-peak.

The totex question

Heat

The totex question

Has total expenditure (totex) become enshrined in utilities' practices? A special pan-utility roundtable held at Utility Week Live sought to find out.

UKPN and National Grid carrying out £20m network upgrade

Power

UKPN and National Grid carrying out £20m network upgrade

UK Power Networks and National Grid are delivering a £20 million electricity upgrade in Hertfordshire.

NGN using robot to carry out gas pipe repairs

Gas

NGN using robot to carry out gas pipe repairs

Northern Gas Networks is using a robot called STAN to travel through underground pipes and carry out repairs.

Findings of ENA’s Future Worlds consultation revealed

Technology & Operations

Findings of ENA’s Future Worlds consultation revealed

The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has revealed the findings of a consultation that explored five proposed models for the future operation of the electricity system.

Work on £20m heat network gets underway

Gas

Work on £20m heat network gets underway

Construction work is underway on Manchester's £20 million Civic Quarter Heat Network (CQHN).

Electric Nation findings call for EV tariffs

Customers

Electric Nation findings call for EV tariffs

Western Power Distribution (WPD) says that the findings of its Electric Nation project prove that well-designed EV tariffs plus smart charging systems can save electric vehicle (EV) drivers money.

SGN and Murphy enter JV

Gas

SGN and Murphy enter JV

SGN and Murphy have entered into a new 50:50 joint-venture in utility asset ownership.

Hydrogen’s role in the future UK energy system

Gas

Hydrogen’s role in the future UK energy system

The Energy Research Partnership (ERP) recently brought together a range of stakeholders from across the energy sector to review the role of hydrogen to help decarbonise the UK energy sector. Their findings will be reported in July and the group has concluded that hydrogen, working together with the low carbon advances made in the electricity sector, has a potential role to play in meeting the needs of a future low or zero-carbon energy system in the UK.

Gas’s role in a renewable world

Gas

Gas’s role in a renewable world

Steve Urquhart, business development manager - distributed energy systems at Siemens looks at why we still need gas in a renewable world.

Putting the focus on flexibility

Heat

Putting the focus on flexibility

The Energy Institute's incoming president Steve Holliday reflects on the Energy Barometer 2019 and calls for a renewed and visionary focus on flexibility.

Using asset replacement to improve power reliability

Power

Using asset replacement to improve power reliability

Jonathan Hopkins, EMEA sales director at S&C Electric Company, discusses the importance of replacing ageing assets.

Keeping power cuts to a minimum

Power

Keeping power cuts to a minimum

As recent events in South America have proven, power cuts can cause widespread disruption, even if they only last a few hours. Network talked to operators in the UK to find out how they are building a more resilient grid and tackling the issue.