News
Technology & Operations
Alfen picks Moixa for ‘batteries on wheels’ EV trial
Moixa, the firm behind smart software for domestic battery and electric vehicle (EV) charging, and smart charge point specialist Alfen have launched a trial project that will see the latter's customers using Moixa's GridShare software to help reduce home energy bills.
Gas
Ofgem scopes out fast-forward systems operation review
Ofgem has revealed more details about its review of system operations on both the gas and electricity networks, less than one year since the last major shake-up in the electricity grid.
Gas
Ofgem scopes out fast-forward systems operation review
Ofgem has revealed more details about its review of system operations on both the gas and electricity networks, less than one year since the last major shake-up in the electricity grid.
Power
Ofgem approves UKPN to access smart meter data
UK Power Networks has become the second Distribution Network Operator to secure Ofgem approval to access smart meter data for households and small businesses in its patch, after the regulator approved its data security plan.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem approves UKPN to access smart meter data
UK Power Networks has become the second Distribution Network Operator to secure Ofgem approval to access smart meter data for households and small businesses in its patch, after the regulator approved its data security plan.
Gas
Cadent adds BMW bikes to emergency response fleet
Gas distribution network Cadent has invested in four new police-style patrol bikes for emergency engineers as part of its expanded rapid response fleet.
Gas
Cadent adds BMW bikes to emergency response fleet
Gas distribution network Cadent has invested in four new police-style patrol bikes for emergency engineers as part of its expanded rapid response fleet.
Power
SP Energy Networks reveals fault level management breakthrough
Electricity distributor SP Energy Networks has unveiled groundbreaking new technology that can give an accurate real-time reading of the short circuit capacity, or fault level, on networks.
Power
Power now restored to customers affected by Storm Ciara
Engineers have worked through the night to restore power to 62,869 customers affected by Storm Ciara
Gas
Coronavirus outbreak sends global gas prices tumbling
The coronavirus outbreak is putting more pressure on global pricing for gas sellers, against the backdrop of an already oversupplied European gas market, causing prices to be pushed even lower.
Gas
BEIS spotlights heat networks with consultation and grants
The Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE) has welcomed two new government announcements supporting heat networks: a consultation in advance of dedicated legislation and the award of £40m to seven projects through the Heat Network Investment Project (HNIP).
Heat
UK Power Networks pioneers new super-fast circuit breakers
UK Power Networks is claiming a world first by installing next generation circuit breakers in part of London's electricity network, estimating significant cost and carbon savings due to their ability to facilitate the connection of Combined Heat and Power systems.
Power
Green, amber and red lights for EV installers in north east
Northern Powergrid has launched an online tool, underpinned by network data, that will enable local authorities, electric vehicle (EV) installers and businesses planners to identify the best new EV charging point connection locations.
Gas
Decarbonisation Action Plan targets greenwashed energy tariffs
The energy regulator Ofgem has published its Decarbonisation Action Plan, which has seen support for its targeting of greenwashed energy tariffs.
Power
Nemo outperforms in first year
The Nemo Link power cable between UK and Belgium has recorded world leading performance in its first full year of operation.
Gas
Ofgem launches low carbon Action Plan in nine steps
New Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley used his first day in post to publish the regulator's Decarbonisation Action Plan, setting out nine steps the regulator plans to make in the next 18 months to meet the 2050 net-zero challenge.
Power
Johnson toughens up targets on coal power and EVs
Prime minister Boris Johnson has announced that the UK will eliminate all coal-powered electricity generation by 2024 - a year earlier than originally planned - and will outlaw the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars by 2035 rather than 2040.
Heat
New apprentices for UK Power Networks as levy criticism mounts
In National Apprenticeship Week, UK Power Networks has announced that it is recruiting 16 new apprentices to join the company in September.
Power
DNOs publish data on connected assets over 1 MW
The Energy Networks Association, which is running the Open Networks Project, has announced the completion of its project to publish System Wide Resource Registers, detailing connected generation over 1MW on the distribution networks.
Heat
Householders vital to net-zero transition, says ADE
Policy makers should put the energy needs and aspirations of households at the centre of their thinking on achieving a net zero energy system, according to a new report from the Association for Decentralised Energy (ADE).
Gas
Ofgem’s RIIO-1 electricity framework too lax, says NAO
Consumers paid too much for their electricity during the RIIO-1 price control period after Ofgem set performance targets for the network companies too low and allowed them over-generous cost budgets, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
Gas
Ofgem to review 600 MW Shetland HVDC link plan
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission (SSEN Transmission) has resubmitted its investment case for a new transmission link for Shetland to energy regulator Ofgem, in a similar proposal to the submission that was put on ice last October.
Gas
RIIO-2 business plans fail on net-zero, says Ofgem panel
Ofgem's RIIO-2 Challenge Group has criticised most of the energy companies that submitted their business plans in December for lacking strategic vision on reaching net-zero, although National Grid ESO was given an honourable mention.
Power
Logan’s hydrogen refuelling station to power Belfast buses
Logan Energy, an Edinburgh based specialist in hydrogen energy systems, has been contracted to supply and maintain a hydrogen refuelling station in Belfast that will support three new hydrogen-fuelled double decker buses in the city.
People & Skills
SP Energy Networks puts Glasgow charity on low carbon road
SP Energy Networks and Community Transport Glasgow have unveiled Glasgow's first ever all-electric minibuses, fully funded by the Distribution Network Operator to support vulnerable, disadvantaged and elderly people across the city.
Gas
National Grid: 400,000 needed for ‘Net Zero Workforce’
The energy sector will have to step up on recruitment, training and communications with potential staff to fill 400,000 roles needed to meet the operational requirements of a net-zero energy system by 2050, according to a new report from National Grid.
Gas
Hydrogen must benefit UK more than offshore wind, say businesses
The government needs to set a policy framework that means the economic advantages of the hydrogen transition benefit businesses and jobs growth in the UK, constrasting with the experience in the offshore wind farm sector, an event heard.
Innovation
SSEN awarded £343k to model networks’ social impact
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has secured £340,000 in funding from Ofgem's Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) for a project to support knowledge sharing between network operators and stakeholders in the energy system.
Gas
ENA to publish DSO implementation plan summer 2020
The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has launched an eight week consultation on the draft 2020 Work Plan for the Open Networks Project, the cross-sector collaboration that is laying the groundwork for the network operators' transition to become Distribution System Operators (DSO).
Strategy & Management
UKRI funds £20m academic centre for industrial net-zero
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which is running the £170 Industrial Strategy Challenge fund to promote strategies to reduce emissions in industrial clusters, is funding Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University to develop plans for a new academic centre geared to industrial decarbonisation.
Gas
IDNO Leep Utilities wins ‘dark kitchen’ contract
Leep Utilities, a licensed independent distribution network operator (IDNO), has won the contract to operate the electricity networks for six sites operated by commercial kitchen company FoodStars.