Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | 31ST MAY - 6TH JUNE 2019 | 13 Policy & Regulation The report came on the back of fresh warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change about the imminent potential for irreversible global biodiversity damage due to global warming, and amid a swell in public demand for climate action, demonstrated by Extinction Rebellion and the Youth Strike 4 Climate. The UK's energy networks are ready and willing to rise to the challenge laid down by the CCC, and at a transmission level, National Grid has already demonstrated that it is capable of operating a dynamic sys- tem that can utilise distributed low-carbon resources. As Network's House of Commons event took place, National Grid was celebrat- ing its … rst full week since 1882 of operating the grid without the use of coal-… red gen- eration. The ability to buy balancing services from distributed system participants was core to this achievement. But the full potential of a low-carbon elec- tricity grid will not be realised until distribu- tion operators can also facilitate dynamic system balancing at a local level. Plans to transition distribution network operation to local system operation are well underway. But, as participants in Network's debate made clear, they will not be possible without signi… cant changes to existing operational telecommunications infrastructure, which was designed only to support remote opera- tion of network-owned assets. Future distribution system operators (DSOs) will need to support fast and resilient communication with millions of connected smart energy devices and distributed energy resources at the grid edge, as well as an increasingly intelligent "… nal mile" of distri- bution infrastructure. This volume and diver- sity of connectivity cannot be delivered using the bandwidth provided by legacy telemetry networks. Instead, a new suite of smart telecom- munications options will be needed. Debate participants were adamant that this must include access to dedicated radio spectrum – ideally in a "sweet spot" bandwidth of around 400MHz, which o˜ ers technical and economic bene… ts. Securing this frequency range for utili- ties usage is eminently possible, but requires clearance from the telecommunications regulator Ofcom, which must prioritise spec- trum demands from a number of competing interest groups. Encouragingly, Ofcom has already sig- nalled that it recognises the need to enable smart grids and is in the early stages of a joint project with Ofgem to review available and practical options for a dedicated smart Brought to you in association with continued on page 14 A number of smart network operation requirements could be met by spectrum allocation. T here has recently been a › urry of national interest and controversy around the impending rollout of 5G communications in the UK. This development is clearly relevant and important for the UK's smart energy future. However, it's important to understand that the arrival of 5G will not be a panacea to the current obsta- cles with operational telecommunica- tions modernisation. Indeed, most of the communications capability inher- ent in 5G technology exists today and will develop as a continuum. This is important in the light of current industry debate concerning the immediate need for spectrum allocation for smart grid operations. Releasing spectrum today in the UHF band would not be an interim meas- ure only to be ripped out and replaced once 5G enablement arrives. Spectrum enablement with suitable UHF alignment in systems such as 4G LTE will be embraced and enhanced by 5G, not displaced. Consider, for example, the follow- ing … ve important and urgent smart network operation requirements – all of which would be immediately enabled by the release of suitable spectrum for smart grid applications and enhanced in the 5G aspirations. • Security: UHF spectrum allocation would support growth of private mobile (LTE) networks that can enable pervasive and predictable connectivity to secondary substa- tions. This is essential for resilient day-to-day smart network opera- tions, but is also a core require- ment for a reliable black start scenario. 5G would incorporate existing 4G capabilities here and provide enhanced monitoring. • Flexibility and diversity: advanced 4G technology can already support higher levels of secure, encrypted grid automation with reliance on "grid edge" participants – i.e. high levels of participation from distrib- uted energy resources. We do not need to wait for 5G to enable this. • Operational e£ ciency: smart networks will increasingly need to leverage new operational technolo- gies to deliver innovative services at least cost to the consumer. Spectrum allocation would enable greater use of SD-WAN services within the foundations of net- work operational technology systems. These services will be key to unlocking the potential of the Internet of Things for energy networks, supporting network vir- tualisation and optimising the use of smart … eld technologies such as augmented reality and drones. • New business models: spectrum allocation would accelerate to mar- ket the potential of the advanced analytics and arti… cial intelligence applications networks need to build new DSO business models. Networks need to build more advanced transacting capabilities and achieve distributed real-time data processing. In conclusion, enabling spectrum for grid automation today would be a small step that would create a tipping point for the innovation and smart capability that all licensed network operators are currently seeking. Wait- ing for an organic evolution in opera- tional telecoms technology to provide this tipping point is not an option. We cannot be seen as a laggard on the world smart grid telecoms arena. Opinion Nigel Nawacki Utilities chief technology offi cer, Nokia UK & Ireland Smart grid telecoms and 5G

• Cover