ElectraLink names new deputy CTO and head of analytics

ElectraLink, which provides data transfer services to the UK electricity market, has appointed Dan Hopkinson as its new deputy chief technology officer and Nick Blake as its head of data analytics.

The company said the appointments will “bolster its senior ranks” and will be “pivotal in its ongoing drive to provide valuable market insight to a wide variety of organisations operating within the UK electricity industry”.

Hopkinson said: “This is a time of unprecedented change for the industry and my role will be focused on enhancing the service we deliver for our customers – making it more robust and helping to add value for the many organisations who use our dual fuel network.

The company said it believes the introduction of smart metering, smart grids and the increase in renewable energy production will “fundamentally transform the industry”, and that data enabled analytics are going to play an increasing role in supporting the industry because of the insights it can provide.

Blake said that data from the company could help make the smart meter roll out “work more smoothly”.

“For instance,” he said, “the smart meter roll-out programme will present a significant challenge for suppliers and DNOs. Our analytics will be able to help to make the roll-out programme work more smoothly, through better understanding of potential issues, better progress tracking and planning.”

“The explosion in alternative forms of energy generation, many of which are coming from small independent producers is also creating challenges for the industry,” he added.

“It used to be that demand for energy was the key forecasting variable. Now we’ve got a situation where renewable energy supply is becoming volatile and this has a major impact on the ability of the industry to effectively balance the two sides of the equation.”