Smart utilities

The Barbarian: How Northumbrian is battling sewer flooding

The creator of one of Northumbrian's sewer unclogging tools talks to Utility Week about the success of a campaign to reduce blockages caused by wet wipes

Heat pumps to be ‘primary’ heating source for new homes

ENA consults on Open Networks workplan for 2021

Flexitricity to trade EV fleet within balancing mechanism

Flexitricity has partnered with ev.energy with the aim of forming the first aggregated balancing mechanism unit comprised of domestic electric vehicles (EVs). The aggregator will use its automated trading software to sell flexibility in the balancing mechanism from the roughly 10,000 EVs connected to ev.energy’s smart charging platform.

Covid sees smart installs drop by 27% in 2020

Water innovation competition kicks off

The first round of Ofwat's innovation competition kicks off today with the Innovation in Water Challenge, inviting ideas and pitches from within and outside the water sector with a chance to win up £250,000 of development funds.

Filling the void of occupancy data

‘Water finally has a seat at the table’

The COP26 conference presents an opportunity for the UK water sector to showcase its decarbonisation ambitions to the rest of the world, according to the industry’s trade body. However, Samuel Larsen, Water UK's programme lead on Net Zero 2030 Roadmap, told Utility Week that the sector must be transparent on where and how it uses offsetting to reach its goal.

Industry raises concerns over DSR protections

UKPN works with local councils to fill EV charging blackspots

Yorkshire trials polymer to extend asset life

Yorkshire is embarking on a trial with advanced materials manufacturer Haydale to upgrade its asset base using a ceramic polymer that will reduce its carbon emissions from capital investment projects by 23 per cent during AMP7.

Electricity distribution networks argue against hasty decision on DSO separation

Ovo updates on Plan Zero

Ovo Group has outlined its progress on hitting its 2030 target of net zero emissions as part of its ambitious Plan Zero commitment. Utility Week explores what has been achieved so far.

Gridserve receives £10m investment from Hitachi

Ofgem to delay increase to DCC performance penalties

Ofgem has proposed delaying an increase in the amount the Data Communications Company will be penalised by if it fails to hit performance targets. The regulator instead wants to see the different incentives put to trial before being properly implemented.

Coventry and Oxford shortlisted for UK’s first all-electric bus city

The Department for Transport has revealed Coventry and Oxford as the final contenders to become the first cities in the UK to run all-electric bus services. Each city could be awarded up to £50 million to not only replace their bus fleets with all-electric models but also install infrastructure such as charging stations and grid reinforcements.

Plug-in electric vehicles made up one in ten cars sold in 2020

Smart meter rollout to continue in third national lockdown

Ecotricity EV network described as ‘outdated and unreliable’

Electric Highway, energy supplier Ecotricity’s electric vehicle (EV) charging network, has been described as “out of date and unreliable” in Zap-Map’s annual satisfaction survey. A total of 16 networks have been rated by a 1,500-strong sample of the EV mapping service’s users.

Strength in simplicity