Utility Week

34 | FEBRUARY 2023 | UTILITY WEEK Utility Week Live 2023 Event Highlights from the programme Smart stage 16 May Establishing the DSO function – defining business as usual The roles and responsibilities of tomor- row's distribution system operators (DSOs) are becoming clearer. As Ofgem sets out its final rulings on the shape and structure of DSOs, networks need to begin in earnest the work of establishing these functions and defining how they will work with the core business and other stakeholders on a day-to-day basis. Join this session to hear: • How increasingly standardised flexibility specifications are being built into plans for ongoing DSO operations; • How companies are preparing for a range of potential legal separation requirements; • Innovation for business as usual; • How DSOs fit into a whole system view of energy. Featuring: Ben Godfrey, director of Distribution System Operator, National Grid Electricity Distribution Nisha Doshi, flexibility market manager, SSSE 17 May Holistic leakage management: prevent, aware, locate and mend Leakage continues to be a pressing issue for the water sector as it strives to protect water security. With tough targets to save billions of litres of water a day by 2030, water com- panies need to fight battles on many fronts to stop water escaping from their networks – and this must include a focus on preven- tion of bursts. Join this session to discuss: • Options for trialling new technologies without causing disruption to supplies or impacting water quality; • The latest innovations for detecting and preventing infrastructure problems; • The role of leakage prevention in wider smart water network strategies; • Best practice in engaging with consum- ers to cut customer-side leakage. Featuring: Jeremy Heath, head of innovation, SES Water Clive Surman Wells, innovation partnerships manager, Northumbrian Water Group Scott King, benefits realisation manager, Anglian Water Net Zero Stage 16 May New approaches to capital delivery – best practice case studies Project management and capital delivery teams are responding to huge increases in the scale and speed at which new infrastruc- ture needs to be delivered – all while driv- ing down cost and cutting carbon. Join this session to explore how three flagship capi- tal projects are applying fresh approaches to technology, processes, partnerships and people to supercharge their delivery capa- bilities. Key focus topics include: • How digital innovation can better equip capital delivery and project manage- ment teams to meet current and future challenges; • How to mitigate planning constraints and design-out delays on big projects; • How new approaches to procurement can build confidence and readiness in the supply chain. Featuring: Katie Tattersall, Head of East Coast Investment Programme, National Grid Jason Gunning, Project manager, UK Power Networks Pamela Ali, Project manager, UK Power Networks 17 May Water reuse and recycling A summer of drought and upward pres- sure on treatment costs from rocketing energy prices are driving a new focus on the opportunities presented by water reuse and recycling. But can the UK successfully make reuse and recycling the norm? How might it tackle the significant infrastruc- ture, technology retrofit and cultural chal- lenges involved? Join this session to learn: • What are the prospects for water neutral homes in the UK – are developers on board with the concept? • What role do buildings regulation and planning processes need to play? • What technologies are available to sup- port domestic water reuse and recycling and at what scale? • Latest insight into consumer attitudes to reuse and recycling; • Expert views on the potential for retrofit reuse and recycling systems in the UK. Featuring: Varsha Wyles, principle process engineer, Southern Water Julian Welbank, programme director – strategic resource options for West Country Water Resources Group, Wessex Water Gareth Barker, project director, Affinity Water Customers and Teams Stage 16 May Smart metering – finishing the job We explore what needs to be done to get more meters on to the walls of persistently disengaged or sceptical customers and what steps still need to be taken to ensure smart meter data is working as hard as it can to deliver customer benefits and market innovation. Join this session to hear: • New thinking on the use of incentives for smart meter uptake; • New techniques for engaging hard-to- reach customers; • Lessons learnt from harder installation experiences; • How the cost of living crisis is impacting smart meter uptake; • Latest thinking on maximising the value of smart meter data; Featuring: George Walters, energy propositions, Utilita Jeremy Yapp, head of distribution flexibility enablers, BEAMA 17 May Decarbonisation of heat: delivering the biggest carbon win How are investors and companies work- ing to overcome barriers and accelerate decarbonisation of heat? This session will explore: • Trends in key technology costs and what's driving them; • How to gain efficiencies of scale in tech- nology rollouts – including the role of heat networks; • The role of local area energy plans in decarbonisation of heat; • Workforce and labour market readiness; • What data gaps need to be filled to create greater confidence on heat decarbonisation? Featuring: Nicola Lazenby, energy innovation programme manager, BEIS Dan Hopcro-, zero carbon heat director, EDF continued from p32 To see more speakers and topics for discussion go to: www.utilityweeklive.co.uk/ 1617 MAY, NEC, BIRMINGHAM

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