Network of the future
Gas
Network of the future
Editor Alec Peachey outlines Network's central theme and provides a breakdown of the trends that will sit under it.
Power
Siemens announces partnership with UK100
A network of mayors and council leaders is joining forces with Siemens to try to unlock a pipeline of clean energy projects worth more than £100bn as part of the UK's drive to meet net-zero emissions and the Paris Climate goals.
Gas
Challenging the networks
As part of the RIIO2 price controls set out by Ofgem, network operators are required to set up independently chaired customer engagement groups (CEGs). As part of our Utility of the Future campaign, Network caught up with the chairs of four of these groups to find out more about their role and how they challenge the networks.
Gas
Solving the EV charging jigsaw
As DNOs present Ofgem with their electric vehicle (EV) readiness documents, illustrating how the transport revolution can be effectively managed, Patrick Erwin, policy and markets director at Northern Powergrid, outlines key policies that would ensure a fair, and properly managed transition.
Gas
£70m investment in rapid charging points
The government is investing £70 million to create 3,000 new rapid charging points for electric vehicles across the UK.
Customers
Dealing with distributed energy
Active Network Management (ANM) has grown in sync with the rise of distributed energy over the last two decades. Dr Graham Ault, co-founder and executive director of Smarter Grid Solutions, provides an update on the current applications of ANM beyond flexible distributed generation (DG) connections and explores the current state of the ANM market in the UK.
Heat
Bristol aiming to become first zero-carbon smart city
Bristol City Council has launched a global search to deliver up to £1 billion of investment to support its ambition to become the UK's first carbon neutral city by 2030.
Heat
Accelerating the EV revolution
Matthew Boulton, chief commercial officer at Pivot Power, discusses how the company is working at a local level to speed up the decarbonisation of transport.
Gas
Turning ambition into action
The launch of SSEN Transmission's draft business plan includes an ambition to tackle climate change, connect more renewable energy and transport it across the country. Managing director Rob McDonald tells Network editor Alec Peachey how the company is going to achieve this.
Gas
Call for more local energy trials at universities
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has called on the government to support more local energy trials on UK university campuses.
Gas
Hydrogen project wins government funding
SGN will be able to progress a study into the supply of green hydrogen after being awarded £500,000 of funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
Power
EV battery emissions offset by lower carbon electricity system
Britain's EVs emit on average just one quarter of the CO2 of conventional petrol and diesel cars, according to research carried out by Imperial College London on behalf of Drax Electric Insights.
Gas
Renewable gas injected into Ireland’s network
Gas Networks Ireland has confirmed that locally produced renewable gas has been successfully injected into Ireland's gas network for the first time.
Technology & Operations
Government announces £2.5m funding for on-street EV charging points
The government has announced an additional £2.5 million funding for over 1,000 new on-street electric vehicle charge points.
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.
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.
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
Achieving the right climate
With the Government committing to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the UK to almost zero by 2050, networks will be key in the facilitation of decarbonisation. Here, Network puts a special focus on the topic of decarbonisation as part of its Network of the Future campaign.
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.
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.
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.
Policy & Regulation
Challenges around RIIO2
Mark Fitch, an energy regulation expert at PA Consulting, asks will Ofgem's RIIO2 decision dampen the network companies' energy for moving to net zero?
Heat
Local energy in action
Mark Futyan, director of distributed power systems at Centrica, provides an update on the company's Local Energy Market (LEM) project.
Gas
National Grid ESO outlines future energy scenarios
National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) has published its Future Energy Scenarios report which provides analysis of five potential 'energy futures' for 2050, including a net zero analysis.
Power
Government announces funding boost for EV infrastructure
The Government has announced that it will spend almost £40 million on improving the infrastructure for electric vehicles.
Power
£1.4bn spending plan unveiled by SP Energy Networks for RIIO2
SP Energy Networks has set out plans to spend £1.4 billion on its transmission network between 2021 and 2026.
Gas
Hydrogen testing facility opened
A testing facility which will be used to discover if hydrogen could be used to power millions of homes across the country has opened in Derbyshire.
Power
ENA says simplicity is key to unlocking potential of flexibility
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has called for simplicity when it comes to providing access to flexibility markets.
Gas
Range of renewable technologies needed to cope with extreme weather, report claims
The future UK energy system must be able to cope with extreme weather events and will rely on a diverse range of renewable generation technologies in order to do so, according to a report.
Gas
Embracing change
Andreas Lips, general manager, e-mobility, Shell - talks to Network editor Alec Peachey about how the energy and transport sectors are aligning to accommodate the millions of expected electric vehicles on UK roads.
Gas
HyNet project on track to be operational by 2024
Cadent's HyNet project is on course to be operational by 2024 after being awarded over £800,000 in support from UK Government and project partners.