Utility Week

UTILITY WEEK | DECEMBER 2021 | 37 ing typically decreases at lower voltage lev- els and is still fairly minimal when it comes to the 11kV networks that feed power directly into homes. Improving visibility at this level is a critical, albeit challenging next step for the industry, says Berry, with work focused on increasing the granularity and certainty around lower voltage assets in order for power distribution companies to support more • exible use of power-dependent low- carbon devices such as heat pumps. In the gas industry, data inaccura- cies tend to be due to asset age, with some records held by WWU being between 80-100 years old. Similarly, records at electricity network UK Power Networks (UKPN) were hand drawn just 30-40 years ago. The organisation is in the process of updating to a full digital form. UKPN head of enterprise data Matt Webb explains: "Our Œ nal step has to stay dedi- cated to making sure that every single object or asset – whether it be a section of cable, a cable join, a wood pole – is an object within that digital system that you can select and hold data against e' ectively." While improvements have been made individually, the ideal scenario would be to bring this siloed information together to create a single national map of the energy system, and eventually to link this to other digital maps of critical infrastructure. "If you look at the Australian energy sys- tem, that's the gold standard. They have a map with network data, environmental data, • ooding data, population data, weather data, agricultural data and aviation data," says the Energy Networks Association's (ENA) director of innovation and develop- ment, Randolph Brazier. The ENA has been working with Ord- nance Survey and so˜ ware provider 1Spatial to build an integrated digital map of the UK's energy system, which will include data on network assets, generators and energy inten- sive users. The National Energy System Map was one of the key recommendations of the govern- ment's Energy Data Taskforce, arguing that creating a national digital map is a key foun- dation for a "Œ t for purpose" energy system of the future. The ENA has so far collected whole sys- tems data from gas and electricity networks and developed a map. It is still proof-of- concept with static data but will eventually become more dynamic and live. Other projects include a National Under- ground Asset Register (NUAR), which aims to reduce barriers to innovation, enable sus- tainable cities and smarter, safer Œ eld opera- tions within the water sector. Northumbrian Water developed the Œ rst integrated underground map of the North East in 2018, which was then combined with similar projects undertaken by Thames Water and Transport for London. This was taken forward by the Geospa- tial Commission in 2019, along with British Geological Survey, Coal Authority, HM Land Registry, Ordnance Survey, UK Hydrographic O¢ ce and the Valuation O¢ ce Agency. Collaboratively, they have been striving to map the nation's underground assets with a view to generating commercial and social beneŒ ts as well as industrial e¢ ciencies. The National Underground Asset Register Pilot proved that a secure data exchange platform to collate asset data from a wide network of utility providers is feasible. Overcoming barriers There are several challenges ahead for the industry as the energy system becomes increasingly digitalised and intertwined with other sectors, such as transport, and power becomes a main source of heating. Across the board the prospect of "whole system" operation means conŒ dence in the condition and responsiveness of assets needs to grow. According to Scottish and Southern Energy Networks operations director Elaine Algaard's, one of the key asks to help resolve areas of uncertainty for asset leaders is a big focus on improving industry collaboration with new stakeholders. With the number of electric vehicles fore- casted to increase from 60,000 to 5 million by 2050, and the heat pump sector set to expand exponentially from 18,000 to 2.5 mil- lion, engagement must occur between local authorities and energy networks in order to map out opportunities and capacity. The ENA's Brazier is optimistic that work on the National Energy System Map will help develop useful new processes for coopera- tion across industry boundaries, including showing how data can be shared without fear of commercial, operational, security or legal compromises. But while this project and others are trying hard to tackle data-sharing issues, Brazier says it remains a key barrier to innovation. Once these issues are overcome, a sig- niŒ cant skills gap must also be rectiŒ ed. Key digital and engineering expertise are in short supply across the sector. Many networks are acting now to try and address this shortfall, including WPD. The network's Jonathan Barry says: "We are bringing new types of people into the indus- try that we haven't had before. We now have data scientists who understand how to max- imise the value from data and drive insights." WPD has started a data science degree apprenticeship with Nottingham University, and is also reskilling existing sta' . A Œ nal consideration, but a critical one, is to keep public interest Œ rmly in sight. While improving asset data opens the door to a whole range of options, Eric Brown, chief technology o¢ cer for the Energy Systems Catapult, urges that the potential for generat- ing public good should be the deŒ ning factor in deciding which opportunities are pursued. "You can achieve net zero in many ways," he says. "You can do it badly or you can do well. But you need to do it in a way that opti- mises not just climate change outcomes, but also societal beneŒ t for those that matter, the consumers and the citizens." In association with I N S I G H T R E P O R T Achieving future asset management goals: filling data and knowledge gaps In this report Introduction: why we need better asset information What data do we have? Which initiatives are accelerating progress? Overcoming barriers V I E W P O I N T Solving the challenge together Download the report Download the report Achieving Future Asset Management Goals: Filling Data and Knowledge Gaps free at: https://utilityweek.co.uk/ achieving-future-asset-management-goals/ in association with "If you look at the Australian energy system, that's the gold standard. They have a map with network data, environmental data, fl ooding data, population data, weather data, agricultural data and aviation data," Randolph Brazier , director of innovation and development, ENA "If you look at the Australian energy system, that's the gold standard. They have a map with network data, environmental data, fl ooding data, population data, weather data, agricultural data and aviation data," , director of innovation and development, ENA

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