innovation
Gas
ENA invites feedback on gas innovation strategy
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) is inviting industry stakeholders to play a vital role in shaping the future of energy innovation through the launch of its Gas Network Innovation Strategy.
Gas
Gas networks call for ideas from low carbon innovators
Gas networks are inviting low carbon innovators to share their ideas for innovation with funding of up to £20 million per annum available.
Gas
ENA launches next stage of innovation strategy plans
Plans to put gas and electricity grids at the forefront of energy innovation have moved forward with the energy industry invited to take part in a number of workshop events in November.
Power
SP Energy Networks denied £37m of innovation funding by Ofgem
Ofgem has turned down two applications by SP Energy Networks for a total of £36.8 million of funding through the Innovation Roll-out Mechanism (IRM).
Gas
Research will assess the impact of utilities on society
Research that explores the social impact of network interventions on local communities is set to be carried out.
Gas
Disruptive technologies rewarded at UK Energy Innovation Awards
Small business innovators with novel technologies are disrupting the energy sector, bringing benefits to customers and accelerating UK energy system transformation.
Gas
Networks must collaborate on common smart tech standards
Operators will otherwise face restrictive rules and regulations imposed by government
Technology & Operations
Converting innovation: Q&A with Stewart Reid
Ahead of Network's Future Networks conference SSEN'S Stewart Reid reveals innovation funding is only half of the story.
Heat
Given the green light: electricity
Four network innovation competition submissions made the cut in the latest round of innovation funding, but two more missed out. Network runs through the winners and losers of the Electricity NIC.
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.
Gas
Wasted resource – the future of energy from waste
Advanced Plasma Power and National Grid have joined forces to commercialise the decarbonising potential of energy from waste.
Power
Next steps for network innovation
Ofgem's Jonathan Brearley discusses the outcomes of the regulator's recent review of innovation funding and its application.
Gas
Ofgem awards £44.6m to six smart grid projects
Ofgem has awarded £44.6 million of funding to six projects aimed at developing smarter energy grids.
Power
Substation monitoring system wins Innovate UK grant
A remote monitoring system for electricity distribution substations which undercuts the price of alternative solutions by more than ten times has been awarded funding by Innovate UK.
Gas
LCNI: clarity, collaboration, and customer
Scottish and Southern Electricity Network's Stewart Reid draws out his top three themes from this year's Low Carbon Networks Conference.
Technology & Operations
NGET aims to increase OHL river crossing height
National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is aiming to increase the clearance height of overhead lines crossing river spans by five meters by installing semi tension insulators.
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.
Innovation, technology & operations
Innovating for skills
A novel approach to developing and accrediting apprenticeship standards for utilities has made innovation in workforce renewal a business as usual activity argues Nick Ellins.
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.
Heat
LCNF success is ‘not defined by business as usual’
Network innovation funding should be judged a success based on the quality of the evidence generated rather than business as usual (BAU) adoption.
Power
SHET to cut power failures through pole monitoring
Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission is to use sensors to detect movement in poles supporting overhead power lines in order to avoid power outages in remote areas.
Innovation
£15m competition to spur energy systems innovation
Innovate UK and the Knowledge Transfer Network have begun seeking out potential participants for an innovation competition aimed at creating new infrastructure systems, including energy.
Power
Utility Week Live: Innovation – a step closer to business as usual?
In this period of transformation within the energy sector, the networks are acutely aware of the need to innovate to remain relevant and capable of servicing the evolving energy market.
Gas
Innovate to transform: The network innovation allowance
Jamie McWilliam explains the importance of drawing key themes from across the network innovation allowance.
Power
EV cross-sector group to take step forward
The cross-sector partnership between the automotive and electricity industries set up to support the development of electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK is to take a step forward with its first group meeting next month.
Gas
Innovation investments top £15.7 million for EIC
The Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) has facilitated £3.2 million of investment in innovation projects in the last 12 months while growing its innovator community to over 1600 companies, the EIC has revealed.
Gas
RedT accelerates towards energy storage deployment
Energy storage technology company RedT Energy has successfully transitioned to become a pure energy storage business ready to accelerate the deployment of its flow battery technology in the coming year.
Gas
‘Unquestionable need’ for innovation funding, networks tell Ofgem
Energy networks have unanimously called on Ofgem to continue funding innovation, saying ending the support now would be “premature”.
Power
Scrap intellectual property rules, industry tells Ofgem
Network companies and third parties involved in the Network Innovation Competition (NIC) have called for more flexible rules on intellectual property (IP).
Power
NIC is stifling real innovation, Ofgem told
The Network Innovation Competition (NIC) cannot fund true innovation because of its adverse attitude towards failure and the short time frame allowed to judge a project’s success, third parties involved in the scheme have said.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem mulls overhaul of network innovation funding
The Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) and the Network Innovation Competition (NIC) are in line for an overhaul as Ofgem confirms an in-depth review of the funding mechanisms over the summer.