Across the UK’s devolved nations, civil servants are divided and uncertain about how they will structure the national apprenticeship levy – this much was clear from debate at the National Skills Academy for Power’s (NSAPs) annual conference in Glasgow in May.
Clarity lacking on apprenticeship levy Read More »
Maxine Frerk (MF), chair customer engagement group, SGN.
Challenging the networks Read More »
Attracting more female workers into the power and gas sectors is accepted as a key element in the war for talent. But is any progress actually being made on industry gender ratios?
Changing industry gender ratios is easier said than done Read More »
It is almost a year since the government unceremoniously pulled the plug on the £1 billion competition to commercialise carbon capture and storage technology, leading to the cancellation of Yorkshire’s White Rose and Aberdeenshire’s Peterhead demonstrator projects.
Catch it, keep it: the role of CCS in decarbonising gas and heat Read More »
It’s hard not to feel inspired by the idea of a single integrated and optimised energy system, with complementary flows of power, gas and heat moving in concert to achieve the ultimate in efficiency. Such a system would represent a zenith of engineering accomplishment as well as bringing social benefits and commercial opportunity. But is such a shiny utopia even remotely possible?
Building the dream: energy systems integration Read More »
Many energy networks now engage in fairly comprehensive workforce planning, matching their recruitment and training requirements against upcoming work on new infrastructure projects and major asset renewal schemes.
Better together with skills Read More »
When networks talk about behaviour change, what do they mean?
Behaviour change: Q & A with Paul Bircham Read More »
If there’s one topic that can unite a room full of engineers in the UK, across the energy sector and beyond, it’s skills pipelines and future talent. But despite this animation industry skills obstacles seem immovable. Figures about skills gaps, job vacancies and potential economic value – to be lost or gained – are endlessly trotted out to perpetuate a sense of urgency about the challenges industry faces.
Are industry skills challenges insurmountable? Read More »
In the unlikely event of a total or partial shutdown of the electricity transmission networks, system operators use Black Start services to re-energise the grid and restore power to consumers as quickly as possible. “Black Start” has traditionally relied on the use of designated power stations with self-starting capability to re-energise sections of the network, then incrementally connect loads and additional generators to create “power islands”. These “islands” are connected together to restore supply to consumers.
An alternative route to Black Start Read More »
Ofgem’s justification of the move to block DNOs from owning and operating storage was that it sees network operators increasingly in the role of buyers of flexibility services, and as such, does not want them to operate their own storage. It believes that as DNOs transition to becoming distribution system operators (DSOs), their impartiality must be guaranteed, and that this will not be possible if they have an interest in a particular option.
Adapting to the new reality Read More »
