Utility Week

14 | 31ST MAY - 6TH JUNE 2019 | UTILITY WEEK Policy & Regulation Roundtable (continued) utilities spectrum. However, the timeline and scope for this project are currently unclear and there is industry concern that it will not deliver the required spectrum allocation in time to enable DSO strategies to move for- ward in RIIO2. A hamstrung DSO agenda has clear and worrying implications for the UK's ability to deliver its 2050 net-zero emissions ambition. To accelerate a decision on utilities spec- trum allocation, industry representatives encouraged regulators and policymakers to take note of international examples where this path has already been trod, for exam- ple in Ireland, where the telecoms regulator ComReg recently responded to requests for allocation of a (nationally under-utilised) 400MHz spectrum band for smart metering and smart grid innovation. With such examples to look to, there is a tangible opportunity for the UK to nim- bly deliver the policy and regulatory inter- ventions needed for a thriving low-carbon future. As Network's House of Commons debate closed, industry participants looked hopefully to the conclusions of the Science and Technology Select Committee's inquiry into technologies for meeting clean growth emissions reduction targets for a demon- stration of government understanding and support on this important enabling issue for smart, decarbonised utilities. Brought to you in association with Further reading: Key resources for more information on smart telecommunications for smart power grids: ENA position paper: Need for Increased Spectrum Allocation and Investment in Operational Telecommunications to Support Electricity Networks http://bit.ly/ENA_spectrum Plum Consulting report for ComReg: Potential use of the 400MHz band in Ireland http://bit.ly/Plum_ComReg JRC white paper: Cutting Through the Hype: 5G and its Potential Impacts on Electric Utilities http://bit.ly/5Gpaper IET conference paper: The future of Operational Telecommunications associated with a power distribution network http://bit.ly/IET_futuretelecoms Western Power Distribution study: Next Gen- eration Networks: smart grid telecommunica- tions analysis http://bit.ly/WPDstudy continued from page 13 Access to additional radio spectrum is vital to the UK's energy neworks. T here is an immediate priority for the UK's energy networks to secure long- term access to additional radio spectrum and enable the data- rich operational telecommunica- tions systems needed for smart grid functionality. This is essential to facilitate the transition from distribution network operation to distribu- tion system operation at a local level and to support the growth of a smart, low-carbon power system. In addition, it could bring even greater decarbonisation beneŒ ts to the UK by allow- ing more granular monitoring and control of the gas network, which will also encounter operational telecommunications challenges as the number of injection points and the range of gas products (with varying thermal properties) increase over time. To deliver the many beneŒ ts associated with the creation of smart energy networks, opera- tors must work closely with government and the relevant regulators to ensure the appro- priate policy frameworks and investment regimes are in place to enable the deployment of this enhanced operational telecoms capability. Without the appro- priate policy interventions, the much-anticipated beneŒ ts of a thriving low-carbon economy will not be realised. This close working between industry, government and policy makers must establish a clear understanding of smart energy utilities' speciŒ c require- ments for their future opera- tional tele coms solutions. For example, the wide geographic distribution of the energy networks assets, alongside the need to access remote Œ xed assets reliably and consistently – typically using low-power equipment – means that spec- trum allocation in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band [300MHz to 3GHz] is preferable. Furthermore, spectrum in this UHF band would be the most cost-e– ective choice for smart grid applications, because today's network operators already have existing assets making use of this frequency range. Alongside the e– orts of government and regulators to deliver the spectrum access smart utilities need, it is also important that energy network operators play their part by working together to establish a standardised approach to technology deployment and operations, which can allow the beneŒ ts of enhanced telecom- munications capabilities to be applied to the whole UK energy system in an e— cient and cost- e– ective manner. Fundamentally, you cannot have smart networks without enhanced communications capability. Opinion Peter Couch Chief executive, JRC No smart grid without smart telecoms

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