Vattenfall has launched an independent distributions business for GB. Vattenfall Networks was granted a licence on 1 November and is expected to begin operations in 2018. It will be headed by Stewart Dawson. The new unit Vattenfall IDNO, an Independent Distribution Network Operator,…
Author Archive for New Power
Elexon to offer ‘sandbox’ approach to bring on electricity market innovations
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Balancing and settlement company Elexon wants to set up a market ‘sandbox’ to allow companies to test innovative products or ideas for the electricity market. The idea follows Ofgem’s similar approach, which allows for a temporary derogation from existing rules,…
Barn Energy opens third Yorkshire hydro plant
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A new hydroelectric power plant will be officially opened today (Friday) by Geoffrey Boycott, the ex-Yorkshire and England cricketer. The 500kW Knottingley scheme, half a mile down the Aiire river from the Ferrybridge coal-fired power station has been developed by…
National Grid culls frequency response products
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National Grid has announced it will stop tendering four frequency response and two short term operating reserve (STOR) products, aiming to reduce complexity and help new providers enter the market. The System Operator will bring Enhanced Frequency Response, Rapid Frequency…
ENA seeks views on gas and electricity innovation
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The Energy Networks Association has launched a consultation on its Gas Network Innovation Strategy. The strategy sets out the challenges and the opportunities facing the gas transmission and distribution networks as the UK looks to decarbonise its energy system. It…
Call for ideas: electricity System Operator wants innovation, £70M funding available
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Electricity System Operator (SO) National Grid is looking for innovators to put forward projects for the 2018 Network Innovation Competition (NIC) process. The competition is operated by the regulator, Ofgem, and it makes funding available to inspire large-scale and industry innovations…
Gas networks call for ideas from outside the industry: £20M funding available for innovation
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The UK’s gas networks want ideas for innovation that can deliver cost, carbon or environmental benefits for customers. The companies will be able to access innovation funding of up to £20 million per annum through the Networks Innovation Competition (NIC) and…
Industry expects data companies to beat utilities to use residential demand flexibility
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Data businesses will be ahead of utilities in the rollout of residential demand management (RDM), which will allow users to participate in balancing supply and demand, according to a survey of industry professionals carried out by Green Energy Options (Geo),…
Centrica: business fears power failures – but does not make it a priority
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Businesses underestimate the cost of electricity failures, according to Centrica Business Solutions. In a survey of UK and Irish businesses, senior energy decision-makers who had not experienced a serious energy failure predicted the cost to their business would be 7%…
OPINION: Top ten? Board-member checklist tests stakeholder engagement
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How effective is your board in meeting ‘future customer’ and stakeholder needs? Sustainability First has developed a check-list for the boards of energy companies to use to assess that question. Within your corporate structure, is it clear where responsibility sits for…