Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1162971
ASSET MANAGEMENT A s networks work harder, asset management planning needs to be smarter and data driven. For some network operators, there is a significant shi from traditional time-based mainte - nance towards condition-based regimes to cope with additional demand on heavily utilised assets. "With any condition-based system the challenge is acquiring the condition data in a timely way and establishing the trigger points for maintenance activities," says Carl Ketley-Lowe, engineering policy manager at Western Power Distribution (WPD). Part of this shi towards a condition-based system has seen WPD explore ways to reduce invasive maintenance tasks, thus reducing the working risk to on-site teams and the cost to customers. "To reduce invasive tasks, we need to develop better inspec - tion regimes and, where possible, collect good proxy data to inform maintenance. In many areas this has developed greatly over recent years with increased use of infra- red imagery and partial discharge sensors," explains Ketley-Lowe. "In our larger transformers the insulat- ing oil is their life blood and oil sample analysis has also improved, giving us a better picture of asset condition." For WPD, low voltage networks in the streets of towns and villages will also be required to work harder to support the additional demands of electric vehicles and heat pumps. As customers become increas - ingly dependent on electricity for day-to-day tasks, the challenge will be increasing network resilience to mitigate failure through overload or damage. "We can meet this challenge with new monitoring solutions for these local networks which have been historically designed from template and modelling. Our monitoring solutions will be able to inform us when networks are working near capacity and also waveform analysis of the network can give early indication of some fault conditions, which allows us to rectify them before they develop into a loss of supply," says Ketley- Lowe. Low voltage issues Historically, UK energy networks required asset managers to fo- cus on higher voltages. But this is changing with the introduc- tion of distributed generation and the electrification of heat and transport, says Andrew McHarrie, a member of the Insti- tute of Asset Management (IAM) Panel of Experts. Unlocking asset infrastructure The UK's energy networks are under mounting pressure to accommodate new and increasing demands. From regulatory restrictions and the uptake of distributed generation to the increase in electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions, the challenges for existing asset infrastructure are varied and complex. Nadine Buddoo reports. NETWORK / 20 / SEPTEMBER 2019 "Asset managers now need to have greater visibility across the length of their networks to ensure the voltage is maintained within regulated limits, and the assets are not stressed beyond their thermal capacity," adds McHarrie, who is also head of asset management and power system studies at EA Technology. As energy networks become more active, there are new genera - tors and new loads appearing at all voltages. While the size of each connection at lower voltages is smaller, there are far more of them. According to Paul Barnfather, head of electric vehicle infrastructure at EA Technology and also a member of the IAM Panel of Experts, these smaller connections are inherently Andrew McHarrie, member of the Institute of Asset Management (IAM) Panel of Experts and head of asset management and power system studies at EA Technology. Carl Ketley-Lowe, engineering policy manager at Western Power Distribution (WPD). Paul Barnfather, head of electric vehicle infrastructure at EA Tech- nology and also a member of the IAM Panel of Experts.