Utility Week

Community The quiet allure of storage It's an age-old question that has le philosophers and great thinkers befuddled – just how do you make energy storage interesting to the man (or woman) on the street? Last week saw the launch of a bold, and some might say unusual, partnership between Manchester City Football Club and Eaton to offer a new limited-edition version of the power management company's xStorage home energy system. It's the home battery system, which comes complete with the football club's logo emblazoned all over it. Disconnector can be a cynical so-and-so at times, but if this brings decentralised energy to the masses, then who is one to argue? Perhaps one day the terraces will be filled with fans chanting, "You're not transmitting anymore!" And, "You're going home in a hybrid ambulance!" Stranger things have happened. Taking the plunge Everyone loves to moan about their job from time to time, but Disconnector doffs his metaphorical cap to an employee of the Dhaka City Corporation, who was photographed last week diving into the sewers without any safety equipment. According to newspaper reports, the man has to swim around in the city's sewers, clawing out blockages with only a long, wooden stick for help. And despite a rise in the number of deaths of manhole workers, cleaners enter the sewers without even a pair of swimming goggles. With a local population of more than 14 million, recent heavy rains and a drainage system that is clearly struggling to cope, whatever this gentleman is being paid is not enough. And Disconnector has a horrible feeling his salary is not that much to begin with… Water, water everywhere… This week's "lateral thinking" award goes to the United Arab Emirates, which is planning to tow icebergs from Antarctica in order to solve its drinking water shortage. It transpires that the National Advisor Bureau is looking to drag an iceberg up from the South Pole to deposit it off the Fujairah coast. The company's managing director, Abdullah Mohammad Sulaiman Al Shehi, told Gulf News that the average iceberg contains more than 20 billion gallons of drinking water, which would be enough for one million people for five years. While Disconnector admires the ingenuity behind such a bold plan, one cannot believe the people behind the idea have not roped in everyone's favourite 1990s rapper, Vanilla Ice, for the ultimate in product placement. Aer all, who doesn't want to drink water that has travelled halfway round the world and is quite literally "ice, ice baby". The battle of the blaggers And finally, you may not have noticed, but apparently there is a general election on. The good news is that it will all be over on 8 June. The bad news is that we've got four more weeks of vague promises and meaningless soundbites – and that's just the politicians. So far, we've had to endure the sight of Lib Dem leader Tim Farron falling over on his battle bus while talking to Sky News; former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith rapping Eminem lyrics; and Labour's Diane Abbott getting her sums wrong. Disconnector is putting all his hopes on an open debate about the real issues that need to be addressed in the sector. Fat chance, I hear you cry. Disconnector Editor, Utility Week, and content director, Utilities: Ellen Bennett, t: 01342 332084, e: ellenbennett@fav-house.com; Deputy editor: Jane Gray, t: 01342 332087, e: janegray@ fav-house.com; Insights editor: Mathew Beech, t: 01342 332082, e: mathewbeech@fav-house. com; News editor: Lois Vallely, t: 01342 332080, e: loisvallely@fav-house.com; Deputy news editor: Jamie Hailstone, t: 01342 332050, e: jamiehailstone@fav-house.com; Senior reporter: Tom Grimwood, t: 01342 332061, e: tomgrimwood@fav-house.com; Reporter: Josh Downes, t: 01342 332102, e: joshdownes@fav-house.com; Policy correspondent: David Blackman, e: davidblackman@fav-house.com; Business development manager: Kevin Pearce, t: 01342 332116, e; kevinpearce@fav-house.com; Business development executive: Nigel Searle, t: 01342 332009, e: nigelsearle@fav-house.com; Conference sponsorship manager: Sophie Abbott, t: 01342 332062, e; sophieabbott@ fav-house.com; Publisher: Amanda Barnes, e: amandabarnes@fav-house.com. General enquiries: 01342 332000; Membership enquiries: Peter Bissell, t: 01342 332057, e: peterbissell@fav-house.com. ISSN: 1356-5532. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office. Printed by: Buxton Press, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6AE. 3,580 Average circulation Jan–Dec 2015 Membership subscriptions: UK £669 per year. Overseas £781 per year. Contact Peter Bissell on: 01342 332057 Utility Week is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK's magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors' Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism. If you think that we have not met those standards and want to make a complaint please contact the editor, Ellen Bennett, at ellenbennett@fav-house.com. If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors' Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.uk William Marchant @richonlyinname Last time Ofgem looked at tariff differentials everyone except Coop was already under a 20% spread. So what would be the point of a 20% cap? Joanne Smalley @SmallJo Energy companies don't HAVE to cluster around the price cap. They could choose to price lower (as they've shown they can). Ann Robinson @AnnRobinson8 If Big Six withdrawing their cheapest deals perhaps we could have a temporary price cap based on 2016 figures until a more perm. cap developed. Richard Lloyd @RichardJLloyd So much debate about an energy price cap makes it harder to fudge in a manifesto than the previously planned green paper… Josh Mills @JoshMillsEUA New report from @ODIdev finds that UK coal sector is subsidised to tune of £356 million pa despite govt's phase-out pledge. Alistair McGirr @alistairmcgirr "Black start" contracts and reduced VAT on electricity are subsidies to coal now? *sigh* Tom Greatrex @tomjgreatrex Both @CommonsBEIS & @LordsSTCom reports highlight need avoid #Euratom disorderly exit and for govt to make priority. Industry agrees. Chris Consoli @GlobalCCSChris I am pretty much sold on Hydrogen+CCS. Ticks a lot of boxes. This is a good strategy. MyGridGB @myGridGB In 2016 there were 210 hours when no British coal power stations were generating. 2017 is set to exceed that in the next few weeks. Mike Hudema @MikeHudema POW! The first US offshore wind farm just displaced about a million tonnes of diesel. Top Tweets UTILITY WEEK | 12TH - 18TH MAY 2017 | 31

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