Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | JANUARY 2021 | 33 Operational Excellence Editor's picks: Technical content downloads Utility Week regularly partners with expert technology and service providers to the utili- ties sector to explore available solutions to some of the sector's biggest challenges. Here are some recent highlights from our range of technical downloads, available free at utilityweek.co.uk Smart and secure? In our report Utility Week Explains: Cyber Security in Legacy Assets – created in asso- ciation with Fortinet – we ask if utilities can balance the need to inject new intelligence and connectivity into their ageing asset base with the risk that doing so will increase cyber-vulnerability. Gain insights into: • The impact of Covid-19 on cyber-threats to utilities; • Assuring cyber-security without disrup- tion or constraining operations; • Identifying "least risk" methods of increasing asset connectivity; • Implementing cyber-security measures to maximise asset life and utilisation. https://utilityweek.co.uk/uw-explains-how- to-ensure-cyber-resilience-in-legacy-assets/ Avoiding fault level risks: a pressing challenge for DNOs Adding new sources of distributed gen- eration to UK power distribution networks (DNOs) is vital in the ongoing pivot towards net zero and "green" heat and transport. But accommodating growth in these sources of low carbon supply and demand places huge strains on existing DNO assets, including creating an increased risk of exceeding the fault level ratings of critical kit. Read this report to see how innovations in fault level limitation can help DNOs head off this risk and play a positive and proactive role in the UK's net zero transition. https://utilityweek.co.uk/avoiding-fault- level-risks-a-pressing-challenge-for-power- distribution-networks/ Cloud solutions to boost hazardous gas monitoring Field personnel working in the energy and waters sectors encounter scenarios where there is the potential for harm to both them- selves and assets from hazardous gasses on a daily basis. With smart, wearable gas detection devices now a fundamental addition to worker PPE, this new Utility Week Explains report, created in association with MSA Safety io, explores how cloud-based technol- ogy can allow utilities to collate real time data from these devices, driving improve- ments in employee protection, asset man- agement and compliance. https://utilityweek.co.uk/utility-week- explains-how-connected-technology-can- help-to-improve-health-and-safety/ what they are using, you need to have data insight and an understanding of consumption patterns." "When we talk about AMI there are a lot of companies putting meters in place but it's not just about the meter – it's about the infrastructure to sup- port it," Neogi says. "It's one thing getting the data, but you also need analytics to understand what is hap- pening within the data." For example, in a drought-prone area consumption patterns – together with catchment management data – would give a broad picture of what is happening across the network and allow operators to react accordingly. "The meters are the eyes and ears of a network; the infrastructure adds intelligence to the network," Neogi says. "The various sensors across the network together with smart meters show information about consumption and flow to help with billing but then goes a step beyond." The added intelligence can show where pipes or connections are weak and predict where a burst might occur, which Parameswaran says has been done with around 60 per cent accu- racy in overseas trials. The pressure and flow data lets companies man- age resources so an area is not over- stressed and disruptive bursts can be avoided. At localised levels, Parameswaran explains how data helps household- ers understand their usage and how to change it. "When customers are told they are using too much water they might not like that, but if you can match it with data that shows their usage against other households then they can understand if there is water being lost," he says. "Companies can have conversations in much more methodical ways." The cost of AMI networks is higher than AMR, but the value comes from the data. Neogi says the analysis of this data is essential to the business case because the insights gained help inform decisions to ensure ODIs are met. Parameswaran concurs: "Many utilities feel smart metering alone doesn't give a strong business case. It allows them to understand consump- tion and to issue bills accordingly, but additional sensors for pressure and flow and water quality in the net- works give insights to inform business decisions." Trials are underway across England and Wales to connect smart meters and networks with internet of things technology in preparation for a wider rollout in AMP8. Although not even a full year into AMP7, businesses will need to prepare to be ready for the next hurdles AMP8 will bring. Better data leading to better understanding of networks to deliver better service is a move in the right direction. Ruth Williams, water correspondent

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