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NETWORK / 32 / OCTOBER 2018 ROUNDTABLE E nergy systems are evolving to incorporate new clean tech- nologies and research is already underway to prepare for the opportunities and challenges. This can be seen with projects like InTEGReL, the UK's first incubator for integrated energy system technologies, and Northern Powergrid's unique customer-led distribution system project. InTEGReL, led by Northern Gas Networks Delivering whole energy systems Northern Powergrid recently invited leading industry, academia and business players to attend a roundtable discussion on whole energy systems. With many challenges presented by these ground-breaking projects, the following participants came together to debate them: l Patrick Erwin, policy and markets direc- tor, Northern Powergrid (PE) l David Gill, head of customer energy solu- tions, Northern Gas Networks (DG) l Professor Phil Taylor, head of engineering and deputy pro vice-chancellor of Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, Newcastle University, and, director of the EPSRC, National Centre of Energy Systems Integration (PT) l Chris McDonald, CEO, Materials Process Institute (CM) What are the challenges to a whole system approach? PE: "Like a lot of major customer-driven technology programmes, communications and interoperability are the biggest early challenges. What once was a fairly simple 'generator to consumer' relationship is now going to include different elements; generating, storing, managing, balancing and consuming energy. Making sure that all the necessary technologies communicate effectively is a challenge, but one that these projects are helping to solve. "It's also essential that everyone, par - ticularly vulnerable people, benefit from these new technologies. We must avoid a world of 'haves and have nots', where flexibility owners get the benefits and costs increase for everyone else." DG: "To meet our decarbonisation prom - ises by 2050 and provide low carbon and affordable energy, we have to look at a whole systems approach. It's important to do this efficiently so that our customers don't pay more than necessary for their clean energy. "A huge challenge will be getting the benefits from combining the long-term strat - egy, delivery and operational maintenance of different systems. But now is the time for whole scale testing to uncover potential." PT: "Firstly – as David touched on – this is a new approach for the UK, so we should ask: 'What is the value of taking a whole energy systems approach?' "Secondly, gas and electricity distribu - tion present the biggest opportunities but they are also heavily regulated, which may be a challenge. "And finally, a whole system approach considers many energy vectors. Thinking of these in silos will not solve the UK's energy challenges – multi-vector thinking will be required. CM: "Agreed. The major challenge is complexity, but this is precisely why it is in partnership with Northern Powergrid and Newcastle University, is an integrated energy facility. It is helping tackle the UK's energy challenges by identifying affordable and practical solutions to moving customers onto low carbon, affordable energy. At the same time, Northern Powergrid's customer- led distribution system is putting consum - ers at the heart of the smart grid, creating a new energy market where they can make money from new clean technologies.