Electricity networks

SSEN reconnects Scottish islands to mainland power grid

Energy networks refresh innovation strategies

The Energy Networks Association has revised its innovation strategies for the electricity and gas sectors and released a new one covering the energy system as a whole. Utility Week talks to key figures behind the documents about the strategy gaps they were aiming to fill.

What we can already learn from the Covid-19 crisis

With the pandemic highlighting how events in one country can have huge effects globally, we need to be more aware of the consequences of our actions on the rest of the world and feed this into our smart climate change policy, according to EUA chief executive, Mike Foster

A bridge to a sustainable future

When we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, we must ensure that any investment in infrastructure to kick-start the economy does not end up accelerating climate change but offers a more sustainable path to recovery. Susan Darcy of Sustainability First discusses.

Future supplies of bioenergy feedstock ‘highly uncertain’

Squeeze on returns will leave networks ‘hunkering down’

In the first part of our interview with Cadent chief executive Steve Fraser, we discussed the company’s past performance issues and his efforts to resolve them. In the second, we move onto hydrogen conversion, the gas mains replacement programme and returns for investors.

Network bottlenecks will drive ‘large rise’ in constraint costs

Distributed ReStart project: live trials

In a pre-corona world, Network spoke to Peter Chandler, project lead for the ground-breaking Distributed ReStart project about the challenges it will face as it embarks on live trials this summer

Coping with coronavirus: How networks are reacting

SPEN unveils RIIO2 customer engagement group

The group of industry professionals who will scrutinise SPEN's business plans have been revealed. Group chair and former Ofgem director John Howard will meet with the team monthly to oversee the plan, due to come into force in 2023.

Ofgem postpones RIIO2 open hearings

Networks will soon need to adjust summer plans in response to coronavirus

Weekend press round-up: Utilities brace for coronavirus impact

As some workers are kept home by the coronavirus pandemic, EDF is considering offering those affected a reprieve from payments, while the energy industry grapples with the effects on electricity demand. Meanwhile, planning applications for renewable energy projects hit a new high – all in the latest round-up of the weekend’s papers.

Electricity demand set to reduce if UK workforce self-isolates

National Grid ESO is predicting a reduction in electricity demand in the case of the coronavirus spread prompting a lockdown across the country. Its analysis was included in an update from the Energy Networks Association, in which it sought to reassure the public that contingency plans are in place to ensure services are unaffected by the virus.

DNOs plead for clarity on pandemic position

A senior figure at one of the country’s distribution network operators (DNO) has called for a clear message on how its workers will be treated if the coronavirus spread becomes a pandemic in the UK. They said Ofgem needed to confirm which licence conditions would be relaxed in such a situation and that a discussion was also necessary about social distancing rules for lifeline service providers.