Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1003889
NETWORK / 8 / JULY/AUGUST 2018 A t this's year's Utility Week Live there were a variety of views over what the biggest disruptor is in the energy landscape. Companies also used the show as an oppor - tunity to highlight new technologies and innovations. On the Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) stand, visitors could take a look at a drone, with the organisation coordinating a project that will see utility companies able to take to the skies to inspect their network infra- structure. The three-year programme is being led by Wales & West Utilities in collaboration with Cadent, National Grid Gas Transmis - UTILIT Y WEEK LIVE sion, Northern Gas Networks, Northern Powergrid, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks and UK Power Networks. A UK first and a designated govern - ment Pathfinder project, this initiative will work with UK aviation regulation the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to explore how the application of drone technology could transform the way the industry carries out essential maintenance tasks. The aerial inspection of network infra- structure usually involves the deployment of piloted helicopters or the use of scaffolds and cherry pickers. Drones, however, are fast becoming a viable, safer and cheaper alternative for getting this job done. Up until now, drones have only been able to fly 'within visual line of sight', a distance of some 500 metres from the control opera - tor. Flying drones 'beyond visual line of sight' (BVLOS) means greater distances can be covered and challenging terrains can be accessed more easily. Wiltshire-based aviation specialists, Callen-Lenz, will be responsible for creating the project's operational framework. EIC marketing manager Amie Jones said: "The whole remit behind this programme is that as a collaborative group we will establish safety cases and the concepts of operation required by the CAA so that the networks can fly BVLOS whenever they want. "Normally these jobs are done by heli - copter pilots or by cherry pickers, so the Dealing with disruption Disruption was the headline theme at this year's Utility Week Live. Network editor Alec Peachey caught up with some of the network operators as well as technology and solution providers at the Birmingham NEC to get their views on the sector and find out about some of the latest innovations.