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NETWORK / 23 / MARCH 2018 infrastructure owner, local systems operator (DSO), the en- ergy supplier or the land owner (airport, rail station car park)? We need to ensure that all stake- holders of this new infrastruc- ture are consulted and that we are ensuring the sustainability of new technologies within infrastructure for decades to come, not years, ensuring they are ubiquitous. A smart ecosystem The challenges surrounding this transition to a "smart" world is dominated by the need for mul- tiple industries to overlap and communicate to meet capacity demands, lower carbon and drive efficiency. Because the span of technol - ogy is so broad, and the depth and breadth of knowledge required so vast, we cannot develop these solutions organi - cally. The market must partner with complimentary suppliers to deliver the range of integrated solutions required. A multi-vec - tor approach is needed with not only integration between sectors but also within the industry where traditionally gas utilities and electricity utilities have been separate. There are great benefits that can be gained now by energy and infrastructure organisa- tions through utilising new sensor and data technologies which support intelligent asset management strategies. How- ever, data alone cannot add any real value. The true value is in determining what data needs to be collected, how and where it needs to be connected and what it can be used for; data visu- alisation and insight is vital for data to be truly useful. This is increasingly im- portant for the future of our critical national infrastructure as more assets age beyond their originally designed life and as we rely more heavily on them. Being able to determine when a substation requires repair, rather than waiting for it to break, could mean the differ - ence between a region of the UK having electricity or being cut off. To deliver an efficient, secure and reliable UK Infra - structure, it requires all of us to utilise the technology and embrace the future ahead. CASE STUDY: Enhancing existing infrastructure Costain, National Grid, Nissan, UKPN, Highways England and Transport for London formed a consortium on an Innovate UK project – 'Integrated Transport and Smart Energy Solutions" for major urban developments. The project looks at the viability of using energy storage to provide balancing services to the electricity network. The challenge: The number of renewables in the UK energy market has increased from four per cent in 2006 to 30 per cent in 2017. How- ever, the lack of storage means that this over-production of electric- ity puts pressure on the network and means the energy is in effect, wasted. As we move to EVs, which are usually only utilised five per cent of the time, there is a market for harnessing the storage capacity as a virtual power plant through vehicle to grid. Working cross-sector with infrastructure providers, car manufacturers and energy companies, the project explored the use of batteries and electric vehicles to balance the grid and meet demand as it fluctuates across an urban landscape. For this idea to be a success it would rely on a connected ecosystem to gain data from the vehicle, charging point and energy network. This would identify new information such as the new supply and demand patterns, the degradation impacts on the battery, the commercial possibilities and charging point usage to assess viability in specific locations among other factors. Smart Networks Ready for the data communication of tomorrow Industrial networks are becoming more complex. With comprehensive solutions for tomorrows industrial data communication, from patch panels to cyber security products, PHOENIX CONTACT can support all your needs for Industry 4.0. For additional information call 0845 881 2222 or visit phoenixcontact.co.uk/smartnetworks