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NETWORK / 38 / NOVEMBER 2016 As a result, we repeatedly see small 'pockets' of telecoms technology successfully deployed in localised trials but without any thought towards a holistic solution or follow-on deployment on a national scale. In mainland Europe, a number of electricity companies have already begun to adopt a standardised approach. In Holland and Germany in particular, discussions and deployments around a standardised utility telecoms infrastructure are well advanced. The benefits of such a solution appear to have been recognised by all stakeholders. The UK has a competitive energy market and relatively low prices achieved through a market forces approach. Ofgem's use of incentives that are not overly prescriptive as to how individual companies achieve attractive pricing and service levels has been successful in this regard. However, it is possible that the once in a generation transition to a full smart grid will require a different approach to ensure that the UK benefits to the fullest extent possible and doesn't inadvertently lag behind the other major economies. The standardisation of electrical plant is likely to occur as a consequence of the small number of major suppliers globally, which do work closely together. However, currently the supporting telecoms infrastructure receives insufficient attention. Testing and validation The ability to test and validate the right mix of future networks communications that will be needed to support the UK's transition to a smart grid has to be undertaken now across the DNO community. The UK already has the testing infrastructure available to support this activity and some work is already being undertaken. The Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) near Glasgow has a dedicated communications and systems integration research programme that is investigating these communications technologies to understand and ultimately to accelerate the development of the optimum solution for meeting the DNOs' future requirements. Three of the UK's DNOs – Scottish Power Energy Networks, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, and UK Power Networks – are currently active in the PNDC's programme along with global comms companies Vodafone and Cisco. However, if the comms landscape is to be fully realised, all six DNOs need to collaborate, as do a larger number of telecoms providers, so that a standardised approach is achieved. N Julian Stafford, associate director, WHP Telecoms SMART GRID TELECOMS Echoes of the past There's little point in looking backwards for ideas about how to address future energy challenges. T he mid-century point of 2050 – 34 years into the future – looms for the UK. But what will the UK energy sector look like by that time given the Climate Change Act target for an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from their 1990 levels? Perhaps we can get an insight into our 2050 future by seeing how much things have changed since 1982 – now 34 years in the past. It was the year Prince Wil- liam was born, the Queen celebrated her Pearl Jubilee (30 years on the throne), Margaret Thatcher was prime minister, the Falklands War began and ended, and the top-grossing film was ET the Extra-Terrestrial. In June this year, Western Power Distribution announced the start of a new study – Project Nexus – to be funded under its network innovation allowance. The project involves an in-depth study, which is being conducted by Analysys Mason, a smart telecoms and energy adviser. It will build on the insights that Western Power gained from previous research, conducted on its behalf by Newcastle University in 2015, which found that smart grid initiatives were suffering as a result of telecoms issues. Analysys Mason will look at global smart grid deployments with a special focus on their supporting telecoms infrastructure. Its final report, which is expected in spring 2017, will identify and quantify: l smart grid site types l smart grid layers l smart grid architecture l smart grid services l smart grid data flows l smart grid security (physical and cyber) l applicable telecommunications and IT solutions Western Power hopes that this project will allow it and other UK DNOs to think more holistically about their smart grid plans and how these will impact, or require the replacement of, legacy telecoms infrastructure. P r o j e c t N e x u s Western Power Distribution is investing in smart grid telecoms knowledge → SMART GRID TELECOMS