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NETWORK / 9 / FEBRUARY 2018 "The systems complement each other. There's not a box that says this is gas or electric- ity. There are points where they touch over and can help complement each other. That's why we've been very clear at the ENA that it's an energy system approach." At the LCNI, Great Britain's electricity network companies announced a joint commitment to "create new markets to en - able flexibility services that will compete alongside traditional investment". The ENA has published a new report entitled 'Opening Markets for Network Flexibility' as part of its Open Networks project - a pan-industry initia - tive to establish the future roles and responsibilities of network companies. According to the ENA, the development of a national smart grid could deliver £17 billion back to the economy by 2050. The figure of £17bn is based on analysis conducted by Imperial College London and The Carbon Trust for the smart systems and flexibility plan pub - lished by the government and Ofgem in July. "The movement from a distribution network operator (DNO) to a distribution system operator (DSO) is important," comments Smith. "We've seen a lot of distributed energy coming onto the networks, probably at penetration levels we wouldn't have expected – I'm thinking particularly about solar PV. That's driven by technology, because solar PV has become more efficient and cheaper to produce. Therefore, people can use it. "We weren't expecting these penetration levels until about 2030. That means the role and responsibility of the networks is that they're seeing it and need to be able to manage it locally. Open networks is about how we facilitate that change, it's about how a system operator would work, and it's about how the TSO/DSO interface will work. Right down to very local levels. We're going to go right down to the low voltage networks. This really gives us visibility across the networks that wouldn't have been seen before." Highlighting progress When it comes to delivering innovation does Smith think that some network operators are more advanced than others? "I think the innovation is across the board," he states. "If you look back at LCNI all the companies were there doing projects. All of them are there with the DSO system. They need to see locally what's going on, and it's simply because of the amount of distributed gen - eration that's going on at that level. They need to get right in and see that, so all of them are leading or doing work on DSO, or they're heavily involved with the Open Networks project – and taking a very active part in it." Finally, what does Smith think we'll be talking about at this year's event? "I think we'll be building on all of the projects. I think we'll be reaffirming the Open Networks commitment. This blurring of the line between gas and electricity I think will come closer to fruition. I think the whole systems approach will become the normal words. Whole system is where we're going." It's clear from talking to Smith that innovation will play a key role in driving the sector forward and ensur - ing that the operators are prepared to meet the changing demands put on networks. The Low Carbon Networks Innovation (LCNI) Conference will return to Telford on 16 and 17 October 2018. Network caught up with some of the network operators as well as technology and solution providers at the Low Carbon Networks Innovation (LCNI) Conference. Views from the floor "People forget there's lots of innovation in gas as well." L ucy Mason, Wales & West Utilities innovation manager, told Network: "What was clear from the conference was the essential role that gas must play in the future if we are to deliver what energy consumers want in an affordable way. To make sure we have a secure supply of af - fordable and sustainable energy for future generations, we must continue to invest in and use the gas network. And with new technology, new commercial arrangements and new ways of doing things on the horizon, it's a really exciting time to work in the gas industry." Off Grid Energy, a provider of efficient grid quality power solutions for people in places where connecting to the Nation - al Grid is not possible, unveiled the latest version of gridtogo at the LCNI event. Gridtogo is a powerful, reliable and portable hybrid power solution for construction projects, events and utilities that can work together with a generator to reduce running hours and cut fuel consump - tion. For the first time, it will be fitted with battery technology from Hyperdrive Innovation, the Sunderland-based developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery technology for electric vehicles and stationary battery energy storage applications. Danny Jones, founder and CEO, Off Grid Energy, said: "As our technology becomes more widely recognised, the desire for even greater efficiency grows. With a drive to improve air qual - ity in London and the work be- ing done by the GLA to promote the use of efficient technologies, our association with Hyperdrive comes at an ideal time. Using Hyperdrive's lithium ion battery products, we can build more powerful and more efficient