News
Heat
District energy scheme to get £1m boost from DSR
The Gateshead District Energy Scheme is to receive a £1 million boost from providing demand side response (DSR) to National Grid through a new partnership with demand response company Flexitricity.
Technology & Operations
GDN wins contract to install dual fuel smart meters
Gas distribution network operator Wales and West Utilities (WWU) has won a contract to install 10,000 dual fuel smart meters across Wales and the south west of England for National Grid Smart Limited (NGS).
Power
Northern Powergrid invests in mobile-first supply chain solution
Northern Powergrid has invested in mobile logistics technology to improve the efficiency of its operations.
Gas
Gas grid connections best way to combat fuel poverty
Installing gas central heating in homes which currently rely on electricity for warmth is the best way to combat fuel poverty, the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) has argued in a new report.
Power
Smart power hindered by ‘piecemeal’ changes to network charging
"Piecemeal" changes to network charging, including the proposed reforms to embedded benefits, are hindering the smart power agenda, the Solar Trade Association has warned.
Gas
Manchester explosion was not due to network fault
National Grid Gas Distribution has verified that a suspected gas explosion in Blackley, Manchester was not due to any faults in its network.
Policy & Regulation
Don’t rule out DNO-owned storage, ENA warns
The option for distribution network operators to own and operate storage must be retained until it is proven that a commercial market can meet the needs of network operators, the Energy Networks Association (ENA) has warned.
Heat
BESA publishes district heating standard for HIUs
A new standard which will tackle the "Achilles heel" of district heating networks and improve the overall efficiency of schemes is to be published by the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA).
Strategy & Management
SO proposals recognise ‘vast experience’ says National Grid
National Grid has welcomed Ofgem's proposals for the electricity system operator (SO) role as recognising it's "vast experience" in balancing the system.
Strategy & Management
ENA launches project to aid evolution of network roles
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has launched a new project to explore the challenges around the evolving roles of network companies in the transition to a smart, flexible energy network.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem plans for separation of system operator role
Ofgem and government have put forward plans to force National Grid to legally separate its system operator (SO) role from the rest of the group in order to address perceived conflicts of interest.
Gas
WWU: storage costs of electrifying Cornwall could tip £36bn a year
The total annual capital cost of the electricity storage necessary to meet the heat, light and power requirements of Cornwall through low carbon sources alone by 2050 could reach £36,784 billion.
Power
WPD to recruit 89 new craft apprentices
Western Power Distribution (WPD) is to recruit 89 new apprentices to its company as part of its 2017 apprenticeship recruitment campaign.
Power
Awareness campaign boosts priority services enquiries by 148%
Northern Powergrid has seen a 148% increase in visits to its Priority Services Register webpage following a two-week awareness campaign.
Power
Northern Powergrid invests £10m reinforcing network in Newcastle
Northern Powergrid is to invest £10 million in Newcastle's power network by installing two new 132,000 volt underground cables through the city.
Technology & Operations
National Grid to employ artificial intelligence
National Grid Gas Transmission (NGGT) is set to test how cognitive technology can be used to capture expert knowledge from its aging workforce and reduce its reliance on technical experts for common enquiries.
Heat
ABB to deploy world’s first power electronic fault current limiter
ABB is to deploy the world's first fault current limiting solution based on compact power electronics as part of UK Power Networks' (UKPN) PowerFul-CB project.
Power
Northern Powergrid invests £9m in tree clearance
Northern Powergrid has spent £9 million over the course of 2016 clearing trees and vegetation growing close to its power lines.
Gas
GIB commits £35m to energy-from-waste-plant
Green Investment Bank has committed £35 million of senior debt to the construction of a new energy-waste-plant in North Wales.
Heat
Direction of heat policy to be outlined in carbon plan
The government will start to outline its plans for the decarbonisation of heating when it publishes its latest emissions reduction plan in 2017, business and energy minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe has revealed.
Strategy & Management
Eon ramps up focus on electric vehicles
Eon will focus on providing customer solutions for electric vehicles and has set out plans to take a leading role in developing Europe's charging infrastructure.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem ponders extensive network charging review
Ofgem has floated the possibility of holding a wide-ranging review of network charging to examine the best way to recoup costs without causing market distortions.
Power
WPD to open NIC funding to third parties in 2017
Western Power Distribution (WPD) has announced its intention to receive proposals from third parties in order to shape its 2017 application for Network Innovation Competition (NIC) funding.
Gas
RHI review seeks to boost energy from waste
A review of the Renewable Heat Incentive has set new feedstock requirements for biogas manufacture which will encourage the production of energy from waste.
Power
RedT to raise £12m to accelerate growth
Energy storage technology company RedT has conditionally raised £12 million from selling new shares to institutional and other investors to allow it to "aggressively ramp up" its sales and marketing efforts.
Customers
Schneider Electric forms partnership to offer maintenance analytics
Schneider Electric is partnering with predictive analytics software company The Cosmo Company to offer a digital technology and service strategy to optimise asset maintenance and investment planning for utilities.
Gas
Storage providers among capacity market winners
At least 169MW of energy storage will be brought forward with support from capacity market contracts beginning October 2020.
Technology & Operations
Ofgem opens Innovation Link for energy disruptors
Ofgem has officially launched its Innovation Link, a hub for hopeful technology and services providers seeking to transform energy systems.
Customers
SSEN to procure CMZ services
SSEN has initiated a procurement process for Constraint Managed Zone services in the Yeovil area, Dorset.
Customers
SSEN to create 3D overhead lines model
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has revealed plans to create a detailed 3D visualisation of its overhead lines networks to enhance resilience and maintenance efficiency.
Technology & Operations
Ofgem to cut electricity innovation budget by £20m
Ofgem has announced plans to cut the funding pot available to electricity distribution companies from £90 million to £70 million to trial smart grid technology to ensure projects are better value for money.