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NETWORK / 12 / MAY 2018 ENERGY SYSTEMS I magine a decentralised UK energy sector which embraced a fully inte- gratedapproach tode- liveringenergy services, not at a national, but at a district level. One whichen- compassed the supply and demand ofall energy vectors in order to optimise our sustain- ability, security and a ordability performance. Imagine a system which better prepared the UK for demand spikes, supply uncertainties and technological advances. The recent energy supply warnings due to the cold weather was just another reminder that we need a more technologically robust, more • exible decentralised energy system • t for the 21st century. This whole system approach to energy is not just wishful thinking. The industry, across all utilities, has the imagination and the tools to achieve it, and Burns & McDonnell has devel- oped a roadmap to guide the way. This sets a course to deliver greater technology and network integration, and the further em- powerment of consumers. It also encourages the development of community energy schemes and the breaking down of barriers between stakeholders. Here are the • ve key areas where current industry thinking is in line with the roadmap's objectives. First, many of us agree that we need to fundamentally change the way we approach helping customers meet future challenges. In practice, this means arming them with action- Supporting a whole system approach Jonathan Chapman, UK managing director at Burns & McDonnell, makes the case for a whole system approach. able pricing signals, engaging them in a shared market- place, and solving traditional problems with new methods. Consumers, equipped with new technologies, must become 'prosumers' who make active decisions about their energy usage in real-time. Solutions for them must be localised, timely and equitable. Bringing customers into the heart of the process also means creating bespoke solutions and speaking to their real-life needs. Instead of billing people for energy in KW hours, why not charge them instead for warmth and light? And as we change to electric vehicles, why not charge people for a journey, with EVs being a part of the en- ergy network, moving electricity from one location to another? This whole system approach in• uences customer behav- iour through dynamic pricing models. One example of where the industry is already making the right moves is in its develop- ment of smart charging stand- ards for electric vehicles. These standards will allow people to charge their vehicles at the low- est price, through, for example, time-of-use tari s. While EVs do pose uncertainty, if we could successfully integrate them as grid assets through vehicle- to-grid (V2G) technology, they would bring bene• ts not previ- ously considered. Second, we know that the UK is a global leader when it comes to energy regulation. We shouldn't, therefore, seek to fundamentally change the current framework to drive change towards a whole system approach. Rather, better coordi- nation and more best practice sharing between regulators is required to maximise regulatory bene• ts. The eyes of the world are on us, and other global play- ers are learning by our example. It is therefore imperative that reforms to create a more joined up regulatory approach do not detriment the system we have today. At the same time, we must understand that change is est price, through, for example, do pose uncertainty, if we could successfully integrate them as to-grid (V2G) technology, they would bring bene• ts not previ- We shouldn't, therefore, seek change towards a whole system approach. Rather, better coordi- nation and more best practice sharing between regulators is required to maximise regulatory bene• ts. The eyes of the world are on us, and other global play- ers are learning by our example. It is therefore imperative that reforms to create a more joined up regulatory approach do not detriment the system we have At the same time, we must