Utility Week

32 | NOVEMBER 2021 | UTILITY WEEK Event What's steering innovation in network asset management? A s UK-wide net-zero targets loom, network asset management and performance specialists face the imminent challenge of ensuring that ageing infra- structure is ready to weather game-changing develop- ments such as full chain flexibility and the exponential growth of distributed energy resources. Progress in such adverse conditions will require rapid, industry-wide, innovation in areas such as asset base and network process digitalisation as well as a greater and growing emphasis on data sharing – all of which must be undertaken with sensitivity to low car- bon, community and biodiversity implications. With this in mind, asset management, operations and delivery leaders descended on Utility Week's Network Asset Performance Conference 2021 – a UW first hybrid event mixing physical and virtual components – along- side a range of influential stakeholders to share how they are innovating in the face of a ra„ of new and fluctuating market forces. These are some of the key innovation drivers they highlighted. Accelerating the industry's green revolution Discussing National Grid's power flow control valves to enhance network performance – a world first for trans- mission – Stewart Whyte, head of network control and transformation at the National Grid, explained that a key focus of innovation on today's network is to accelerate the "green revolution". Though he stressed that there's still "much more to do", he outlined three main ways to meet net-zero tar- gets: decarbonising assets in line with science-based targets; connecting new customers with wind, solar and battery points; and creating capacity for new customers on the generation side. Whyte expressed excitement tempered with trepida- tion on the subject of future network asset tech develop- ments, citing the importance of keeping the industry on the path it has already embarked upon when it comes to environmental challenges. In concluding, he said that while reaching net zero was the most significant industry-wide challenge facing the energy sector – and an unprecedented one at that – he takes comfort from the fact that it is an issue industry experts face "collectively". However, he caveated that regulatory and government support are essential to delivering in the race towards net zero. Emphasis on 'holistic' network planning Outlining Ofgem's role in enabling low-carbon infra- structure investment, Vlada Kolosyuk, senior manager, network price controls, at the regulator emphasised the need for cross-sector programmes in such areas. She explained that holistic network planning was essential in creating these and that there is an acute awareness that networks need to move at a faster pace and be more connected during the next phase of the net- zero transition. Kolosyuk added that themes to approach collectively included strategic investment and issues such as the future of hydrogen and gas. Digitalisation to deal with scale of asset growth Laura Sandys CBE, currently chair of the Energy Digitali- sation Taskforce, said digitalisation was a key factor in the net-zero transformation, dealing with the impending "climate emergency", and the transition to dealing with a "seismic change" in the number of actors and in the energy sector – from around 400 to an estimated 100 million. She said that while the UK was already doing "very, very well" in terms of managing this transition, chal- lenges such as the role of data and ever diversifying con- sumer needs lie ahead. "We're all going to have to become a lot more savvy when it comes to algorithms and system design," Sandys said. "We will not be able to continue as we are, having lived in a linear energy system – networks will be at the heart of this." She explained that analogue approaches would not be sufficient as the sector looks to unlock customer-cen- tric products and grapple with fundamental changes in the way customers and supply side interact. Sandys continued that a whole new level of visibility, knowledge, algorithms and analytics will be required Experts at Utility Week's Network Asset Performance Conference 2021 shed light on some of the prevailing external forces shaping innovation in asset management. We're all going to have to become a lot more savvy when it comes to algorithms and system design." LAURA SANDYS, CHAIR OF THE ENERGY DIGITALISATION TASKFORCE

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