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Q What has the industry achieved during RIIO- ED1? A Since 2015, there has been a lot of emphasis on nding automated solutions at high voltage level and that has led to a signi cant improve- ment. We have also made progress on the low voltage network but there is much more that can be done to ben- e t the end consumers here. As a sector we have been dealing with a balancing act, trying to meet increasing standards for security of sup- ply while dealing with growing complexity as we accommo- date new technologies and move to decarbonisation of the power supply. We have taken a step forward but there is more that can be done. Q What are the key chal- lenges for RIIO-ED2? A As customer behaviour changes and the industry interacts with individuals in more ways, investment in the low voltage network is going to be important. Electric vehicles and low carbon technologies are being applied at customer level and these a ect the low voltage network, where there just isn't the same redundancy built in as there is at high voltage level. We are seeing a major shi‚ in investment plans for ED2 to focus on automat- ing at low voltage level and predicting where problems will arise. We need to nd ways of predicting faults before they occur. Q How have the Network Innovation Allowance and the Network Innova- tion Competition aided industry progression? A During ED1, centrally coordinated investment in innovation through the NIA and the NIC have been crucial. We know requirements will evolve and we have to try out new things to keep up. At Kel- vatek we invest signi cantly in research and development but we also rely on working with other parties through collabo- rative projects. NIA and NIC funding have been crucial to help us help the industry. For example our Weezap low voltage circuit breaker started as an innova- tion project and is now used by four of the six network operators. Q What role can artifi - cial intelligence play in meeting future network challenges? A We are working on an arti cial intelligence and machine learning project at the moment, looking to see early signs of fault activity on low voltage cables. We are also looking at high voltage cables using NIA funding, and the ability to see dangerous lowered lines. We are starting to use ad- vanced algorithms to analyse data and look for very early signs of pre-fault activity. Q What is Kelvatek looking to offer in this space? A Kelvatek has an excel- lent reputation for fault management but I joined the company in February and the biggest surprise to me was its existing so‚ ware capability. Our arti cial intelligence and machine learning centre of excellence in Parma, Italy, is second to none in its ability to determine from complex datasets what is happening and predict what will happen next. We o er services to the industry and, as part of a change I've introduced, we will be o ering our capabilities directly as a so‚ ware solution too. Customers can then decide whether they want to build their own in-house data analy- sis team or use our centralised service. ogy to save customers money, decarbonise and keep the lights on then we want to do that." Brazier backs Ofgem's ap- proach to encouraging technol- ogy development in the energy sector. "We believe the current regulatory framework, which incentivises smart solutions and innovation, is broadly pretty good," he says. "There are two key elements that have helped – innovation funding through the Network Innovation Allowance and the Network Innovation Competition, and the totex mechanism, which has one pot for both operational and capital solutions, incentivising the net- works to nd smarter operations rather than building more." Recognising data Jonathan Rodgers, future networks lead at Kelvatek, high- lights the importance of skills and innovation when he points out that data has no worth in itself until it is understood and acted on wisely. "It is the action that creates the value," he says. One area where action can make a big di erence is in the seemingly mundane but actu- ally hyper-critical maintenance of cables and other network infrastructure. He gives one example of how an increase in the turbulence of both supply and demand for power a ects the physical network. "Electricity North West, through a project called Class, has been using tap chang- ers, assets on the network, to reduce voltage, which reduces demand." While this innovation works well to balance out surges, it requires detailed knowledge of power supply and demand, and also puts additional duties on tap changers, which may need maintaining sooner. "We need to tailor mainte- nance schedules to the reality of how assets are being used rather than on a time-basis or on condition inspections," says Rodgers. Kelvatek is working Gordon Brown, managing director at Kelvatek, talks about the importance of innovation to meet challenges in the energy sector – and his enthusiasm for the software capabilities he encountered on joining the company. Meeting challenges energy sector – and his enthusiasm for the Meeting challenges In association with: "At Kelvatek we invest signifi cantly in research and development but we also rely on working with other parties through collaborative projects." NETWORK / 29 / OCTOBER 2019