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NETWORK / 27 / JUNE 2018 ted out with sensors but that will take years and we have to start somewhere." He adds that the data collected needs to be backed up with good analysis, which is where the hand-picked experts in the smart grid development team come in. "In this room you have the greatest con - centration of smart grid talent anywhere in this country if not the world," boasts Hatton. While the evolution to a smart grid still has a long way to go, and many of its twists and turns remain unknown, the smart grid team is judged on how its work is helping maintain or improve reliability performance and customer satisfaction. It ran a consultation last year on the transition to distribution system operator, followed by a series of engagement events early this year. Programme manager for DSO readiness Lynne McDonald says taking the many Future challenges This is important as the challenges ahead for the smart grid team are numerous and emanate from demand-driven changes as well as supply-side. For example, reports have suggested that as many as one in 10 vehicles sold around the world in 2025 could be electric. "Electric vehicles are a consumer choice," says Georgiopoulos. "We are trying to develop the tools to be able to manage the network with this new characteristic. How can we make sure we can offer custom - ers what they need while keeping cost and upgrade works to a minimum? "We are looking at the tools we have to forecast electric vehicle clusters and also installing monitoring sensors on the grid. You can intervene in smart ways." The team is looking at smart tariffs and smart contracts and working with charge- point providers to send signals to consum - ers to charge their vehicles in line with times of greatest capacity. UK Power Networks is also turning to the Internet of Things as it tries to get ahead of the curve on distributed generation. Director of asset management Barry Hat - ton predicts a continued rise in the volume of sources of energy coming on to the grid. From less than 100 in 2005, UK Power Net- works now has 200,000 generators. "But we have 8.5 million customers so we have not seen anything like the penetration of domestic generation there could be," says Hatton. "How will carbon targets be met? Decarbonisation of electricity. As the cost of the technologies to do this comes down, subsidies are not needed so we can expect to see a pick-up in interest." A project to install sensors at targeted substations is underway and being kept under tight review to see if the picture changes. "The low voltage network traditionally had no monitoring," says Hatton. "But as we upgrade to the smart grid it is important to have visibility of voltage, current and power flow sensors. "Ultimately we want every substation fit - electricity suppliers with the company as it evolves is critical. "We used social media, Barry ran a live Q&A, we hosted and attended about 30 engagement events," she says. "We have used the feedback to shape our 2018/19 programme. "Stakeholders asked us to accelerate our flexible distributer generation programme so we brought our plans forward two years." Collaboration with stakeholders and col - leagues is a key part of what the team does – but it also has to work closely with other network operators. "We've been working in the South East with National Grid to relieve constraints on the transmission network and accommo - date more customers on our network," says White. "It will become more important to work with other operators. There is a big industry initiative called the Open Networks Project. We have to optimise the industry." In the end, the smart grid development team's job will be to do itself out of a job. "One of the challenges is recognising how we translate all the innovation into business as usual," says Hatton. "The ultimate success of the team is that it does unwind." That won't be the end for its people though. Hatton laughs at the suggestion. "There will be other challenges to put our minds to." UK Power Networks smart grid development team. Pictured left to right: Sikai Huang, power system development engineer; Helle Morecraft, network development engineer; Harshil Sumaria, power system data analytics placement; Ali R Ahmadi, power system development engineer; Lynne McDonald, programme manager – DSO readiness; Barry Hogger, network development engineer; Sotiris Georgiopoulos, head of smart grid development; Jack Wilkinson, graduate infrastructure planning engineer; Carolina Escudero, power system development engineer; Stathis Mokkas, energy markets lead; Sam Do, flexibility engineer; Matt White, lead power system development engineer.