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NETWORK / 5 / JULY/AUGUST 2017 L E A D E R C O M M E N T With the amount of noise around smart grids and the emerging DSO model, you could be forgiven for thinking that all the innovation in UK energy networks was on the powerside of the business. You'd be wrong, though. Cadent's HyDeploy case study on page 32 makes fascinating reading. Together with fellow GDN Northern Gas Networks, Cadent is leading a project that could radically reshape thefuture of energy in the UK. We've come a very long way in a few short years. Just … ve years ago, some industry leaders doubted whether the gas networks would survive to see the second cycle of RIIO. Now, their future is looking assured, for the medium term at least. That's due, in part, to an impressive lobbying eˆ ort by the gas networks, which have co-operated and collaborated seamlessly to put their views across where it counts. But much more importantly, they have a compelling case to make. We're seeing a return of pragmatism to energy policy, and it's become increasingly clear that the high cost of full electri… cation, and the huge peak requirement that power's use for heating would necessitate, make it impractical. The vast majority of heat in this country is still provided via the gas network and, as Whitehall has tacitly acknowledged, that's not going to change any time soon. The potential carbon savings from greening the gas network are therefore immense and vital if the UK is to meet its carbon reductioncommitments. Cadent and NGN are to be congratulated on leading such an important project. The rest of the industry, together with the regulator and policymakers, will be watching closely. • Congratulations too to the leaders of FPSA2, whose long-awaited second report was published earlier this month. The report sets a clear path for negotiating the labyrinthine complexities of the future power system and now it's up to government to take a leading role in implementing itsrecommendations. C OMING SO ON ∙ Innovation projects: special report • Asset management • Health and safety YOUR NET W ORK Give the people what they want Let us know what projects, technologies and topics you want us to cover Have your say Express your opinions and respond to content by blogging or writing for the magazine A social Network Follow us on Twitter: @Network_mag Email the editor: ellenbennett@fav-house.com negotiating the labyrinthine complexities of the future power system and now it's up to government to take a leading role in implementing Ellen Bennett ellenbennett@fav-house.com