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NETWORK / 15 / JUNE 2017 INDUSTRY INSIGHT ZIV Automation has supplied a protection and automation system for Llynfl Afan Renewable Energy Park. ZIV Automation was chosen to provide a turnkey solution for protection and automation at Llynfl Afan Renewable Energy Park, together with the main contractor, NRS Group from Livingston (Scotland), and Gamesa Energy UK (GEUK). The park is con- nected to Western Power Distribution's network. ZIV´s 25-year experience contributed to the successful conclusion of this project. The protection, control and substation automation system was designed to meet and exceed project requirements in line with client, wind turbine manufacturer and DNO specifications – and always considering the technical guid- ance in the G59 specification. ZIV also provided an auto- mation system for Western Power Distribution's soft inter- tripping system (SIS), which provides online and detailed knowledge of the entire medium and low-voltage grid, from home users to secondary substations. It consists of smart cabinet containing a USP 20 RTU and a BCC battery charger. The purpose of the SIS is to provide both remote (from Scada) and automatic (local) control of a generating unit based on the voltage conditions of the medium- voltage network, monitored by a centralised system. ZIV is a technological leader in protection, control, com- munication and metering technologies that contributes to the development of sustainable networks, with integrated solutions for metering, distribution automation, substation automation and telecommunications. The company's headquar- ters are in Spain, and it has 15 customer support centres around the world. info@zivautomation.com along with the Energy Systems Catapult, recently commis- sioned a study on behalf of the EIC's industry network partners to consider opportunities for improvements in relationships with SME innovators. The study explored current perceptions and aims for the future of both the SMEs in EIC's innova- tion community as well as the networks. The full report was released at the Innovation Zone during Utility Week Live and the findings are on the EIC website. "The UK energy system is going through unprecedented change and we need to col- laborate now more than ever to ensure that we're ready for what lies ahead. Innovation isn't optional. It's the only way we will experience the change required in the industry," said Massey. "It's always empower- ing attending events like Utility Week Live because it is clear that there is so much passion and drive within the industry to explore new ways of thinking and working. Everyone is pre- pared to share their knowledge and experiences so that we can look to the future together and face those challenges head on. "What is most important though is that we take that mindset away with us so that next year we can progress even further. We can't operate as singular entities either. The only way we'll see real change and find effective solutions to the industry's challenges is by working together and creating more opportunities not only for SMEs and networks to come together, but for networks to collaborate with each other too. That way we will start to see real benefits for the energy customer and UK Plc." For more information about the Energy Innovation Centre, visit www.energyinnovationcentre.com More information about the new digital platform, the Energy Innovation Centre Hub, visit www.eichub.com Revalutech Revalutech – a specialist in the recycling of waste plastic, including marine litter, to make composite products – is helping to conserve finite resources, avoid destruction of tropical rain forests and drasti- cally reduce carbon emissions. In place of tropical hardwood, its products are already being used to increase resilience from events such as coastline and inland flooding in the UK. With the impending ban on the use of creosote coming into force in 2018, Revalutech's technology offers environmentally safe and cost-effective products to be used in place of treated softwood rail sleepers and cable poles. Pollywood This company has developed an exciting replacement for traditional creosote-covered power distribution poles made almost entirely from natural grown products. With increasing pressure from the government on utilities to stop using creosote, Pollywood is explor- ing the use of other woods and resins to develop a more sustainable alternative that has all the strength and durability of the original poles. This development has already received funding from Northern Powergrid, brokered by the Energy Innovation Centre and separately by Innovate UK. Arbnco This pioneering cloud-based software enables real estate investors, managers and consultants to make quicker and better-informed decisions about the energy performance of commercial proper- ties. This lets organisations instantly track and compare their energy performance.