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NETWORK / 14 / JUNE 2017 UTILIT Y WEEK LIVE Pitch perfect As well as the Innovation Zone, The Big Energy Pitch in the Innovation Theatre was also back for 2017. Across the two days of the conference, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EIC Innovation Zone were invited to showcase their revolutionary technologies that are already having a posi- tive impact on utility operators around the world. Chaired by the EIC's head of business development, Lois Wiegand, the SMEs presented their game-changing technolo- gies to a panel of industry ex- perts including Nicola Collister, managing director and busi- ness transformation specialist at Custerian; Adam Hassall, innovation project manager at Cadent; Lucy Mason, innova- tion manager at Wales and West Utilities; David Macleman, innovation strategy manager at Scottish and Southern Elec- tricity Networks; and Watson Peat from SP Energy Networks. Richard Hynes-Cooper, head of innovation at Northern Gas Networks also joined the panel for the second day of pitches. During the interactive ses- sions, the judges quizzed the SMEs about their technologies, and then, with the help of the audience, chose the product they felt was the most innova- tive. It was a draw on day one, with Arbnco and Wearable Tech- nologies jointly named most innovative. On day two, eSmart Systems took the title. "At the Energy Innovation Centre, we believe our large- scale, global energy challenges are best solved through col- laborative innovation. That's why events such as the Innova- tion Zone at Utility Week Live are such great opportunities to get together with like-minded business leaders and SMEs from right across the industry to discuss these challenges and explore potential solutions," said Denise Massey, managing director of the EIC. "The innovations demon- strated by the SMEs we invited this year are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what can be achieved if we start to look for alternatives. The theme of this year's Utility Week Live was transformation and flexibility, and we've certainly seen that from the SMEs in the Innova- tion Zone as well as from other businesses that attended the conference. "We've seen products that can improve safety on the networks, offer efficiencies and cost savings, and provide envi- ronmental benefits. They're all fantastic examples of what our energy future could look like if we all continue to embrace collaboration and explore new possibilities together." Massey, who was part of the panel at the seminar discussing "making innovation business as usual", during the conference stressed the importance of "in- novating with pace". "It's so important that we speed up the process in which innovations are converted into 'business as usual' practices that become the day-to-day approach for dealing with a particular situation," she said. "Without pace, we lose momentum and it should be in all of our interests to ensure that we do more to shorten that timeframe between the net- works being introduced to a new technology and it being adopted full-time. If we can achieve this then not only will it benefit the networks and SMEs, but it will create a much more attractive opportunity for private equity investors to potentially fund future innovation projects. This would then present even more opportunities for innovation, which can only be a win-win." One way Massey and her col- leagues are hoping to increase the pace in which innovations are adopted into business as usual is by improving relation- ships between SMEs and the UK energy networks. The EIC, SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MAKE A BIG IMPACT The SMEs invited to join the Big Energy Pitch and the Innovation Zone this year were: Power Plus Communications (PPC) Provider of broadband powerline communication systems, PPC sup- plies utilities and distribution network operators with key technologies for smart metering and smart grid communications. OptoSci Founded in 1994, the company makes innovative fibre optic-based gas-sensing systems. OptoMole is an award-winning laser and fibre optic-based methane-sensing system designed to help gas distribution networks quickly locate leaks from underground gas mains, reducing streetworks and repair costs. It also helps minimise associated disrup- tion to traffic and the general public. CNI Guard CNI Guard specialises in producing and licensing smart sensor sys- tems to monitor and safeguard critical infrastructure. It works across the water, electricity and gas sectors, among others. Its Manhole Moni- toring System detects and prevents threats to critical infrastructure – resulting in cost savings for the energy networks – and generates vital data about the condition of assets. Wearable Technologies (WTL) Through its Connected Worker Platform, WTL is improving connected worker safety with its real-time Internet of Things platform. By attach- ing multiple sensors to industrial clothing, the platform detects gas, noise or injury. It can also provide proximity warnings and location physiological monitoring, alerting the wearer, co-workers and enter- prise control room of any incidents and accidents. The technology is already being used by global customers in the oil and gas, construction, utilities and automotive sectors. FaultCurrent This innovative company has developed a product that extends the capacity of the power grid. Its unique passive magnetic fault current limiter (pmFCL) is a smart grid technology that protects utility electri- cal distribution networks from unanticipated power surges. It also helps manage the new demands being placed on ageing and already overburdened electrical infrastructure from the connection of cleaner distributed energy sources. ALH Systems This innovative company has been working in the gas industry for more than four decades. It specialises in products that provide flow- stopping for a range of pipe diameters, leakage control, reinstatement and gas-free maintenance using a range of resin and mechanical solutions. eSmart Systems This company describes itself as a developer of digital intelligence for the energy industry and smart communities. It has more than 20 years of international experience. Its innovative platform is designed to han- dle the Internet of Things, big data and analytics in real time, giving grid operators insight into the distribution network on demand.