Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | JULY 2021 | 25 Customers C ould tomorrow's substation or converter station be functional, beautiful, and sustainable? Share your vision with us! As an energy industry, it is now a given that we must leave the environment around critical infra- structure in an equivalent or better state to the one in which we found it. However, we can do more, we will do better, and we need your help to explore how we can achieve both an improved major infrastructure sys- tem and an enhanced environment. The 'Substations of the Future' competition has been launched by Hitachi ABB Power Grids in the UK alongside judging partners National Grid, SSE and UKPN, to stimulate fresh thinking about the role of energy infrastructure in our natural environment. The 'Substations of the Future' competition is open to anyone in the UK aged 16 to 26 either actively studying or interested in the disci- plines of environmental science, architecture, art and design, or sustainability. Our competition invites entrants to apply diversity of thought and per- ception to a substation or converter station, considering how such infra- structure can be functional, beauti- ful, and sustainable at the same time. How could such a structure exist in consort with its environ- ment and add to the ecosystem, not detracting from it? Entries should be made in one of three categories: Suburban; Coastal; or Rural. We invite you to share your ideas about how to blend the transmission and distribution equipment into one of the three environments appropri- ately, so that the location is le" in a better condition than it was before the infrastructure was developed. There are endless options to consider, from restoring habitats for wildlife while disguising the visual impact of the substation or maybe it could be providing a system for enhanced soil stability while reducing the noise impact of a transformer? Each category winner will be awarded £3,000 and second place £2,000. Entries can be submitted on an individual or team (up to four people) basis. The competition closes on 30™September. For more informa- tion, please visit: Substations of the Future (hitachiabb-powergrids. com) or email: GB-SOTF@hitachi- powergrids.com The competition guidelines provide entrants with details of key engineered and operational char- acteristics of a generic substation design with standard equipment for transmission and distribution found across the world. The competition is not speci› c to a project. Utility Week and Hitachi ABB's newly released Insight Report Catch 2050: Investing for Net Zero can be downloaded free at: https://utility- week.co.uk/catch-2050-investing-for- net-zero/ EXPERT VIEW SAM RIDSDALE, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC ACCOUNTS AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS, HITACHI ABB POWER GRIDS Introducing the 'Substations of the Future' competition The full version of this article is available to Utility Week subscribers at:www.utilityweek.co.uk Daniel Alchin, deputy director, Energy UK Alchin tells Utility Week that retail was "one of the least developed areas" of the white paper. As such, he welcomes the prospect of the retail strategy being published. "There are › ve big questions I'd most like the strategy to address. First, what are the outcomes that BEIS and the government are driving for and what are the trade-o£ s between those di£ erent outcomes? How are we clear about those? "The long-term › nanceability of the sec- tor is another big question in my mind. How do we get the investment needed to inno- vate and drive the transition to net zero? Do we, for example, have the right incentives and charging arrangements to encourage innovation? "Third, what is the correct regulatory framework? Is the current framework › t for that purpose? BEIS touched brie¦ y on this in the white paper around things like TPI [third party intermediaries] regulation, but what is the regulatory framework that is going to allow us to innovate and deliver the services and products customers will want and need in the future? "The › nal two for me are the role of cus- tomers in achieving net zero, what is the messaging, what are the plans, what is the engagement strategy and then what are the responsibilities and where do they lie in sup- porting vulnerable customers?" Adam John, senior reporter the FCA's intervention and bring in measures to stop new customers paying less than loyal customers. "Everyone will need to play their part in getting to net zero and so it's important to give consumers a choice beyond price, look- ing at green tari£ s, customer service and technology to help customers manage and reduce their energy use. "Suppliers shouldn't be allowed to 'tease and squeeze' or have a loyalty tax – energy tari£ s should be clear and simple to help people make choices, and suppliers shouldn't be allowed to o£ er cheap, unsus- tainable teaser deals."

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