Keeping networks safe
It’s not by chance that the UK’s energy networks are the safest they have ever been.
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Keeping our options open
A key criticism of heat networks is that they are natural monopolies. This is also the case for electricity distribution and gas and water networks, hence their regulated profits.
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It’s the wrong kind of disruption
Utility Week Live set my head spinning. Numerous stands and speakers set out their roadmaps to a greener future, championing innovation and new business opportunities. Very impressive – yet why was it so unconvincing?
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Investment in V2G
A year ago the future dominance of electric vehicles would have been regarded by many as an “if” not “when”. But in the interim we have had a conveyor belt of announcements by automotive manufacturers, governments and even petrochemical companies with hard commitments to this agenda. The debate has now flipped to one of how quickly this transition will now occur. The mid 20s are talked of as the boom time, but with EV battery capacity rising at an extraordinary rate and the choice of vehicles increasing almost monthly, this could come sooner. EV affordability is also much less of an issue than most people appreciate as in the region of 90 per cent of new EVs are “bought” on surprisingly competitive personal lease deals.
Is CCS worth the candle?
“The costs of carbon capture and storage must come down if it is to play a part in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s economy.”
Is CCS worth the candle? Read More »
Innovation for networks: beyond the buzzwords
Fundamentally, they need to optimise their existing assets – cutting losses and leaks, adding connections and customers – to meet the expectations of Ofgem and Ofwat, while also re-shaping their businesses to achieve full and rapid decarbonisation.
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Innovation for the nation
The electricity and gas networks are no longer the hidden heroes of the energy industry. Over the last few years they have been steadily improving their service for the public – delivering lower cost and more reliable power and gas than ever before. Power cuts are fewer and shorter while the gas network is so reliable that the probability of an unplanned supply interruption is once every 140 years.
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Innovation must become ‘business as usual’ for network companies
Robots that can repair gas mains. Drones that can be used to monitor electricity pylons, and technology that reduces the voltage on an electricity network at the flick of switch. These are just some of the projects that energy networks and other businesses have developed over the past few years.
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Industry views on blackout
Phil Lawton, power systems practice manager at the Energy Systems Catapult and former future system operation manager at National Grid, looks at the key areas where the system operator and the industry could improve.
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Innovate to transform: The network innovation allowance
In recent years our gas and electricity networks have started along a path of significant transformation, as they adapt to meet the variety of challenges associated with decarbonisation. Through the increasing use of new technology to improve the efficiency of our electricity distribution networks and the injection of green gas into the grid, we are already beginning to see how this transformation can deliver security and affordability for energy customers in a low carbon economy.
Innovate to transform: The network innovation allowance Read More »