System Operator
Gas
Protection, monitoring and control
National Grid is rising to new challenges in the vital areas of protection, monitoring and control with one eye on its back and the other very much on the future. Ben Graff, head of T2 stakeholder engagement at National Grid, highlights the work being done by the system operator.
Technology & Operations
National Grid experience 600MW ‘pick up’ during England’s World Cup opener
National Grid saw demand for electricity soar by 600 megawatts across the UK when England took on Tunisia in their World Cup opener on Monday (18 June) evening.
Gas
National Grid launches energy forecasting tool
National Grid has launched a new tool that forecasts the carbon intensity of electricity generation and is able to provide a 48-hour forecast of carbon emissions region-by-region.
Gas
National Grid accurately measures system inertia in ‘world first’
National Grid and Reactive Technologies have achieved a "world first" by accurately measuring system inertia in real time.
Power
National Grid names new system operator chief
National Grid has appointed Fintan Slye, currently chief executive of EirGrid, to run its system operator (SO) business.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem confirms system operator separation
Ofgem has told National Grid to proceed with plans to a create a legally separate company within the group to carry out the system operator role.
Power
National Grid scales back forecasts for storage
National Grid has significantly scaled back its forecasts for the build-up of storage capacity in its latest annual Future Energy Scenarios report.
Gas
Gas has ‘important role’ in all foreseeable futures
Gas will continue to play an "important role" in all foreseeable futures for the energy system, according to system operator National Grid.
Gas
‘Wrong’ to keep system operator role within National Grid
Ofgem's proposal to create a legally separate system operator within National Grid is the "wrong choice" for a "rapidly changing energy world", academics from the University of Exeter have warned.
Gas
Ofgem claws back £185m from National Grid
Ofgem has confirmed a £185m spending allowance cut for National Grid in its mid-period review of electricity and gas transmission.
Gas
National Grid – The electricity sector’s ringmaster
National Grid is set to legally separate its system operator function from the rest of its business following proposals from Ofgem. Nigel Hawkins considers the significance of the decision.
Strategy & Management
SO proposals recognise ‘vast experience’ says National Grid
National Grid has welcomed Ofgem's proposals for the electricity system operator (SO) role as recognising it's "vast experience" in balancing the system.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem plans for separation of system operator role
Ofgem and government have put forward plans to force National Grid to legally separate its system operator (SO) role from the rest of the group in order to address perceived conflicts of interest.
Gas
Power play: an interview with John Pettigrew
What does the energy system's most influential chief executive think about current transformation challenges?
Policy & Regulation
Labour conference: Former shadow energy minister backs change to SO
A former shadow energy minister has backed calls for changes to the system operator role currently performed by National Grid.
Power
DSR is ‘fanciful nonsense’, says union
GMB has slammed National Grid as being “naively complacent” over its intention to use demand-side response (DSR) to avoid blackouts, and has called for the company to be stripped of its system operator role.
Policy & Regulation
Ofgem prepares for system operator overhaul
Regulator Ofgem has launched a consultation on system operator (SO) incentives for the interim period between the end of the current framework and a “fundamental review” of the SO role.
Power
Editor’s weekly: A challenge awaits response
Network editor Jane Gray breaks down the content of the Future Power Systems Architecture report and wonders if industry will embrace its challenge.
Gas
‘It is time’ for independent system operator says ECCC
The Energy and Climate Change Committee (ECCC) has called for the system operator (SO) role to be removed from National Grid “as soon as possible” to avoid conflicts of interests which would “undermine" the development of low-carbon infrastructure.
Gas
Bonfield speaks out on SGN sale
National Grid has said it is unlikely that the buyer of its four gas distribution businesses will also bid for the minority stake in SGN which energy supplier SSE put up for sale earlier this week.
Heat
Join the dots: a talk with the NIC’s Philip Graham
Jane Gray speaks with National Infrastructure Commission chief executive Philip Graham about his plan for electricity system transformation and its links to national infrastructure needs.
Strategy & Management
National Grid: Creating an ISO will damage investor confidence
National Grid has warned against moving to an independent system operator (ISO), as the necessary market changes will not help investor confidence in the UK energy market.