Sep2024
MEMBER NEWS
TAURON has announced a tender for the installation of half a million smart meters
TAURON Distribution announced a procurement procedure for the installation of over half a million remote reading meters. These meters will be installed by the end of 2025 throughout the company's distribution area. For the company, this is a key step towards modernizing the energy infrastructure and increasing the efficiency of network management.
The company has already installed smart meters for nearly 1.3 million customers. The tender announced at the beginning of September is the next stage in the implementation of modern remote reading meters for all TAURON Dystrybucja customers.
Apator counts on accelerating the rollout of smart meters in Poland
Apator is working on increasing sales on foreign markets, and in Poland it is counting on accelerating the rollout of smart meters - informed the president Maciej Wyczesany. In his opinion, Apator may not maintain the very strong growth dynamics from the first half of the year in the whole of 2024, but the year should be good for the group.
"A healthy level that we want to strive for in terms of the share of exports in total sales is around 50-60 percent, but this varies depending on the segment. In the electricity segment, large contracts are primarily with Poland, but we expect an increase in the share of exports in the coming years in the water segment. The gas segment and whether we will go towards the development of, for example, green hydrogen are still a mystery, but we have a certified meter for measuring hydrogen and gas mixtures in our offer, so we are also prepared here," President Maciej Wyczesany told PAP Biznes.
Meteorology in the electricity market: "Keep error rates low, exploit time advantages"
The proportion of wind and solar power in the electricity mix is constantly increasing. Energy production is therefore increasingly dependent on the weather.
Precise weather forecasts and meteorological knowledge are therefore indispensable for energy companies in the fossil-free age. Conversely, incorrect forecasts can entail high costs and enormous financial risks.
Oracle Energy and Water Data Intelligence Helps Utilities Unify Data and Accelerate AI Projects
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle CloudWorld -- Oracle today announced the availability of Oracle Energy and Water Data Intelligence, a data unification, analytics, and AI solution designed for utilities. The solution extends the value of Oracle's applications by orchestrating the integration of data between Oracle and third-party sources to give utilities a comprehensive view of their operations for powerful analysis and reporting.
With easy access to actionable, pre-built insights, company leaders and business users have the intelligence they need to make critical decisions faster. Data scientists can also extend the solution with self-service machine learning (ML) model development to create applications specific to each utility's individual needs. This could range from forecasting load growth for a particular service territory or recommending consumer next best actions based on a utility's own programs.
Ferranti adopts the new ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard for Information Security
“At Ferranti, we’ve always believed that information security and quality are the cornerstones of our success. Adopting the updated ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard is not just about compliance — it’s about setting a higher standard in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Our certification for ISO/IEC 27001:2022 underscores our commitment to protecting our customers’ data and ensuring the reliability of our services.”
Energy and utility companies play a vital role in ensuring that a customer’s data is both secure and private in today’s digital world. As energy infrastructures become increasingly digitalized, they are prime targets for cyber-attacks which can cause significant disruptions and pose risks to both energy companies and their customers.
MARKET NEWS
Slovenia’s electricity grid to be upgraded with €50 million EIB loan to Elektro Ljubljana
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending Slovenian electricity company Elektro Ljubljana €50 million to expand and upgrade the power-distribution network in central and southeastern parts of the country. EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris and Elektro Ljubljana President of the Management Board Urban Likozar signed the credit agreement today in the Slovenian capital in the presence of State Secretary Tina Seršen of Slovenia’s Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy.
Elektro Ljubljana operates the largest energy distribution network in Slovenia, serving more than 353,000 people. The EIB loan is for works scheduled in 2024-2026 to make Slovenia’s electricity infrastructure more reliable, efficient and sustainable.
Tech Talk | Open source – how it can benefit the energy transition
Open source technology in the energy sector represents a transformative opportunity to achieve the UN SDGs, particularly in addressing climate action, LF Research suggests.
In a study for Natural Resources Canada, LF Research – the research arm of the Linux Foundation – investigates the role of open source in the context of the Canadian energy grid and its increasing digitalisation.
Cyberattacks on US utilities surged 70% this year, says Check Point
Sept 11 (Reuters) - U.S. utilities faced a near 70% jump in cyberattacks this year over the same period in 2023, according to data from Check Point Research, underlining the escalating threat to a critical infrastructure.
The utilities and power infrastructure across the U.S. are becoming increasingly vulnerable as the grid expands rapidly to meet surging demand for power and assets are digitalized.
Stronger integration measures are needed as solar and wind soar to record levels in electricity sector
As solar PV and wind grow at an accelerated pace around the world, governments must act to ensure that they are well integrated into power systems – or risk losing out on significant benefits, according to a new report from the IEA.
Integrating Solar and Wind: Global experience and emerging challenges, published today, explores one of the biggest hurdles for policy makers as clean energy transitions gather speed. Between 2018 and 2023, solar PV and wind capacity worldwide more than doubled, and their share of electricity generation nearly doubled. Fuelled by supportive government policies and continued cost reductions, the capacity of these renewable sources is projected to keep expanding rapidly towards 2030. Solar PV and wind are crucial technologies for decarbonisation – especially in the electricity sector, where they account for two-thirds of reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on a pathway towards net zero by mid-century.
Croatia’s HEP to buy smart electricity meters worth EUR 86.5 million
Croatia’s power utility, Hrvatska Elektroprivreda, has launched a tender for the purchase of smart meters worth EUR 86.5 million. The procurement is part of a modernization project co-financed by the European Union through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
HEP said that it plans to install smart meters at all metering points in Croatia by the end of 2029, Forbes reported. The company has almost 2.5 million metering points.
New guidance for expanding and smartening EU grid for renewables
Guidance published on the integration of renewable electricity in Europe’s grid highlights the need for expanding grid capacities and developing a more flexible and smarter infrastructure.
This need is at both the distribution and transmission levels and is necessary to integrate an increased amount of variable renewable electricity and distributed energy resources such as electric vehicles (EVs), PVs and heat pumps.
UPCOMING OSPG PARTNER EVENTS
EV Infrastructure and Energy Summit 2024, London, United Kingdom, 01 - 02 October 2024
Enlit Asia 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 08 - 10 October 2024
Energy Week Western Balkans, Budva, Montenegro, 9 - 10 October 2024
XVI International trade fair "EcoEnergy Expo ‑ 2024", Kyiv, Ukraine, 15-17 October 2024
Nigeria Energy, Lagos, Nigeria, 15-17 October 2024
Sustainable Energy Expo 2024, Bucharest, Romania, 15-17 October 2024
Africa Energy Expo, Kigali, Rwanda, 4-6 November 2024
ADIPEC 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4-7 November 2024
Smart City Expo World Congress 2024, Barcelona, Spain, 5 - 7 November 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
EGYPES 2025, Cairo, Egypt, 17 - 19 February 2025
SMARTGREENS 2025, Porto, Portugal, 2 - 3 April 2025
Aug2024
MEMBER NEWS
Networked Energy Services Announces the Introduction of AI Solutions
San Jose, CA, August 19, 2024: Networked Energy Services Corporation (NES), a global smart grid solution provider with the industry’s leading Energy Applications Platform (EAPTM), is proud to announce the introduction of its AI solutions beginning with an initial customer support application. NES is launching AI solutions to help its customers boost smart grid efficiency and reliability.
NES already provides world-class technical support to its customers and partners. This includes 24/7 access to technical resources and technical assistance for customers that are using the NES System. Now, NES is launching an AI based customer support application to enhance the customer experience. This application is integrated with the NES support software and ticketing system, and utilizes an AI embedding mechanism and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to obtain the appropriate information from the collected identified documents.
ÖkoStrom Dynamik: Relieve the burden on electricity grids and optimise consumption with the new Vattenfall tariff
A large proportion of electricity customers in Germany still rely on tariffs with fixed working prices per kilowatt hour - whether in the basic supply or in special tariffs with or without a price guarantee. Electricity consumers at Vattenfall recently had one more option: the flexible ÖkoStrom Dynamik tariff makes it possible to shift their own consumption primarily to cheaper times in order to save costs.
From 2025 at the latest, all suppliers must offer dynamic electricity tariffs. However, this requires an intelligent electricity meter - a so-called smart meter.
Photovoltaics ready for bad weather. TAURON supports prosumers
Over 445 thousand photovoltaic micro-installations have already been connected to the TAURON network. In order to make the efficiency of home installations independent of weather turbulences, the energy company has introduced unique support for the appropriate level of electricity production from the sun. TAURON has also launched a new knowledge platform for prosumers.
- We are providing our customers with more and more green energy from renewable sources of the TAURON Group. At the same time, we offer technology, solutions and comprehensive support for home installations producing electricity from the sun. We know that properly selected photovoltaics, supported by an energy storage, can effectively contribute to long-term savings in households, especially in the context of the premiere of the new edition of the Mój Prąd 6.0 subsidy program - says Mariusz Purat, President of the Management Board of TAURON Sprzedaż.
Alliander invests €797 million over first half of 2024
Over the first six months of 2024, network company Alliander invested €797 million, mainly in upgrading, expanding, and maintaining the gas and electricity networks. Over that period, a great deal of work has been done to ensure that businesses and households could continue to count on a reliable supply of energy. At the same time, the workload that comes with the energy transition is enormous.
As a result, we noticed over the past half year that we are coming up against the limits of how much we can up the pace of our large-scale energy network construction and upgrades.
EON Boosts Power-Grid Spending as Europe Electrifies
German utility EON SE ramped up investments by more than 20% in the first half of the year as it pushes for higher returns to help drive the energy transition.
As one of Europe’s largest distribution-grid operators, EON plays a key role in the economy’s electrification. The continent aims to be climate-neutral by the middle of the century, an endeavor that requires a huge build-out of grids so that millions of clean-energy generators can be connected.
Explosive growth in Danes' electric car charging abroad – the green transition is gaining momentum
New figures from the energy and fiber network group Andel document a significant increase in Danes' use of electric cars, not only in Denmark, but also abroad. A comparison of data for charging from the month of July in 2023 and 2024 shows that the Danes have taken the green transition seriously.
With data from the subsidiary Clever's roaming partners in each In Germany, Austria, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, Andel has compared charging patterns in the period 1 July to 31 July 2023 with the corresponding period in 2024.
MARKET NEWS
Global smart meters to double to 3.4B by 2033, generating USD 40B in annual revenue
The world’s leading IoT analyst firm, Transforma Insights, estimates that global smart meters will grow from 1.7 billion in 2023 to 3.4 billion in 2033, by which time smart metering will generate revenue of USD40 billion annually. Smart electricity metering will continue to dominate but with smart water metering increasingly important.
This week Transforma Insights has published a series of reports on the markets for smart water, gas, and electricity metering as part of its ongoing IoT market forecasts.
Enea to purchase and install nearly 273,000 remote reading metres
Poland’s power industry company Enea has signed an agreement with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management to co-finance the purchase of smart metres and implement modern solutions for process management.
Under the agreement, Enea will purchase nearly 273,000 remote reading metres (REM) with a total project value of over 242 million złoty (56 million euros). The project involves installing remote reading metres at customers’ premises and implementing other elements of intelligent measurement and management infrastructure to optimise network operations and expedite electricity market processes.
AI in the Energy Sector: Significance, Benefits, Use Cases, and Examples
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the talk of the world right now and it is rapidly entering the energy sector with tremendous potential to revolutionize the industry. AI in energy can change the way the industry works by making sure that we have a sustainable and secure future.
AI and energy are the “new power couple” as dubbed by the International Energy Agency. Both of these work together to deal with the challenges of the energy industry as analysts predict that we will need AI to manage the electricity grids of the future world.
Latin America smart meter penetration to triple by 2028
According to Berg Insight analysis, smart meter penetration in Latin America will more than triple from 11.7 million units end of last year to 38.4 million by 2028.
This is according to a new research report from IoT analyst firm Berg Insight – Smart metering in Latin America – which reveals that the penetration of smart electricity meters in Latin America – a region including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Mexico and Panama – reached 6.2% in 2022.
White hat hacker shines spotlight on vulnerability of solar panels installed in Europe
An ethical hack of solar panels in the Netherlands has revealed their vulnerability to cyber attacks, prompting industry calls for more rigorous safety assessments.
While wind turbines, which are highly networked and equipped with hundreds of sensors, are traditionally considered more vulnerable to outside interference than solar panels, a Dutch citizen may have proved otherwise.
Can the grid cope with the surge in electricity demand?
Electricity demand around the world is expected to sky-rocket as we switch to electric-powered vehicles, heat pumps for our homes and pursue the vast digital transformation of society. Emerging nations are also expected to use an increasing amount of electricity as they industrialize and give their populations ever greater access to energy.
While this massive switch over to electricity is expected to considerably reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and help in the fight against climate change, a mounting concern is that electricity grids won’t be able to cope with the increased demand.
ECS4DRES project launches to advance monitoring and control of DERs in Europe
The ECS4DRES project has been launched in Europe with co-funding from the EU’s Horizon Europe and the German federal government.
The Electronic Components and Systems for Flexible, Coordinated and Resilient Distributed Renewable Energy Systems (ECS4DRES) project is aimed to strengthen the reliability, safety and resilience of distributed renewable energy systems with the development of advanced monitoring and control technologies.
UPCOMING OSPG PARTNER EVENTS
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 4-6 September 2024
World Utilities Congress 2024
EV Infrastructure and Energy Summit 2024, London, United Kingdom, 01 - 02 October 2024
Enlit Asia 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 08 - 10 October 2024
Energy Week Western Balkans, Budva, Montenegro, 9 - 10 October 2024
XVI International trade fair "EcoEnergy Expo ‑ 2024", Kyiv, Ukraine, 15-17 October 2024
Nigeria Energy, Lagos, Nigeria, 15-17 October 2024
Sustainable Energy Expo 2024, Bucharest, Romania, 15-17 October 2024
Africa Energy Expo, Kigali, Rwanda, 4-6 November 2024
ADIPEC 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4-7 November 2024
Smart City Expo World Congress 2024, Barcelona, Spain, 5 - 7 November 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
EGYPES 2025, Cairo, Egypt, 17 - 19 February 2025
SMARTGREENS 2025, Porto, Portugal, 2 - 3 April 2025
Jul2024
MEMBER NEWS
Poland’s Tauron Dystrybucja snags 1 million smart meter rollout subsidy
Polish DSO Tauron Dystrybucja has secured over PLN173 million ($44 million) for the ongoing purchase and installation of smart meters.
The subsidy from Poland’s National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, the largest the company has received so far and amounting to almost half of the PLN375 million total cost of the currently planned tranche of meters, is aimed to support the ongoing installation of over one million smart meters by the end of 2025.
Vattenfall InCharge wins European tender to install 22,000 charging points in the Netherlands
The public charging infrastructure in the Netherlands will get a solid boost in the coming years. Vattenfall InCharge will be installing as many as 22,000 additional charging points over the next few years in Brabant and Limburg, two provinces in the south of the Netherlands.
In recent years, Vattenfall InCharge has installed a total of more than 37,000 public charging points in Limburg and Brabant. Under the new tender, this number will grow to 59,000 over the next few years. Vattenfall, which also installed the first two series of charging stations, came up with the best offer and won the European tender for the project. The two provinces are putting the charging infrastructure out to tender on behalf of the local councils involved.
Alliance between Schneider Electric and Eltel to solve capacity problems on the electricity grid
It is with energy optimization in mind rather than expansion of the electricity grid that the globally leading electronics group within energy optimization, Schneider Electric, enters into a new partnership with the company Eltel, which ensures critical infrastructure. It is necessary to think of new solutions for the business world, so that the electricity grid is less burdened, says the call.
Ballerup, 9 July 2024 – The Danish electricity grid is challenged by electrification, and Denmark's electricity consumption is expected to have doubled by 2030, partly because there are more and more electric cars on the roads. It is therefore necessary to think of new solutions for, among other things, companies, so that the power that is already available is used optimally. And these are precisely the solutions that Schneider Electric and Eltel will bring to the table in their new collaboration.
Duke Energy strengthens the grid, increases resiliency ahead of the 2024 hurricane season
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. – Resiliency is the ability to recover quickly from a disruption, and Duke Energy Florida has been preparing ahead of the start of hurricane season to respond quickly and restore power faster when the next storm strikes.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-normal hurricane season with 17 to 25 named storms this season, including 8 to 13 hurricanes, and 4 to 7 of those becoming major hurricanes. This year’s forecast predicts around 30% more storm activity compared to the number of storms predicted last year.
Mitsubishi Electric Delivers Smart-meter System to Taiwan Market as First Overseas Project
TOKYO, June 28, 2024 - Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that, in cooperation with system integrator Glory Technology Service Inc. and Taiwan's leading telecommunications company Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd., it has supplied Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) with a headend system as the central point for managing and controlling smart meters, and also communication modules to be embedded into the smart meters and data concentrator units.
The system is already in partial operation as the first smart meter system delivered by Mitsubishi Electric outside Japan.
E-mobility picks up speed: Another major order for intelligent wallboxes goes into production
Linz, 03.07.2024: Kontron AG, a leading global provider of IoT technology, is entering the production and delivery phase of a major new order for intelligent charging systems for electric cars. The customer is a leading German automobile manufacturer. The smart wall boxes are being developed and manufactured for the European and Chinese markets.
The order consists of the development and delivery of a new generation of intelligent, fully networked charging systems. Series production with an order volume of 120 million euros will begin in Q3 2024 and run until 2028. IoT specialist Kontron is relying on the expertise of its subsidiary eSystems, a manufacturer of innovative charging systems, to develop the intelligent charging solution. eSystems was acquired at the beginning of the year as part of the KATEK takeover. This is Kontron’s second major project for intelligent wallboxes in a short period. In May 2024, the company received approval to supply smart charging systems worth at least EUR 200 million. “These major orders show: Our ’smart charging’ business unit is a central and extremely value-adding component in our portfolio,” explains Kontron CEO Hannes Niederhauser. “With this new project, we are further strengthening our growth in this forward-looking area.”
MARKET NEWS
Asia-Pacific Smart Metering Market Nears 1 Billion Devices Milestone
According to Berg Insight’s (IoT analyst firm) latest research report, the development of smart metering technology is expanding rapidly across multiple countries including China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and New Zealand.
The report forecasts that the installed base of smart electricity meters in the Asia Pacific will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%, reaching close to 1.2 billion units by 2029 from 818.6 million units in 2023. This growth trajectory suggests that the region will likely achieve the milestone of 1 billion installed devices by mid-2026.
EIB invests 80 million euros to modernize Serbian infrastructure
The European Union, via the European Investment Bank (EIB), has signed an 80 million euro loan with Elektrodistribucija Srbije d.o.o (EDS), Serbia’s electricity distribution company, to replace 400,000 old electromechanical meters with smart meters. This project is part of a wider program to modernize the power grid, with the aim of reducing electricity losses, improving collection rates and facilitating the integration of renewable energies.
The installation of these smart meters will also make it possible to implement optimized tariff methods and ensure a more reliable power supply. The project is co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and an EU budget contribution via the Western Balkans Energy Support Package, adopted in 2022 to strengthen the region’s energy security.
Smart Metering Progress: Deployments pick up pace
India’s smart metering market is experiencing significant momentum and transformation. Following the launch of several schemes by the government aimed at improving the distribution infrastructure, there has been an evident uptick in the demand and adoption of smart metering solutions across the country. Smart meters and smart grids hold immense potential to revolutionise the power sector through efficient monitoring of usage and faulty applications, swift interventions and grid stabilisation.
Smart grids are characterised by their advanced solutions and utility benefits ranging from optimised asset utilisation and reduction in transmission and distribution losses to peak load management and increased grid visibility.
EU Tests Cybersecurity Readiness With Major Exercise Targeting Energy Sector
In a bid to bolster cybersecurity defenses, the European Commission took part in the extensive ‘Cyber Europe’ exercise, focusing on the readiness and resilience of Europe’s energy sector against large-scale cyber-attacks. This year’s exercise simulated cyber threats to the EU’s energy infrastructure, evaluating coordination, cooperation capabilities, and crisis management skills.
The pan-European exercise saw the participation of 30 national cybersecurity agencies, several EU agencies, bodies, and networks, and over 1,000 experts. These experts covered a broad spectrum of areas from incident response to high-level decision-making, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the sector’s preparedness.
The International Olympic Committee to Deploy Alibaba Cloud’s Energy Expert to Optimize Power Consumption at Future Olympic Games across all 35 Paris 2024 Competition Venues
PARIS, FRANCE - Media OutReach Newswire - 15 July 2024 - Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will deploy its data-driven sustainability solution – Energy Expert – to help measure and analyze the electricity consumption at the competition venues of the forthcoming Olympic Games Paris 2024 ("Paris 2024"). By migrating the intelligence related to the power consumption and demand of the competition venues to the cloud-based platform for the first time, the solution aims to enable more accurate analysis and better-informed power consumption planning for future Olympic Games.
The deployment of Energy Expert will be applied to all 35 competition venues during Paris 2024. With this solution, the IOC will be able to consolidate all energy-related data during the Olympics and Paralympics – such as electricity consumption, power demand contingency, venue capacity, competition-related information and onsite weather conditions – into one easy to understand dashboard for a user-friendly experience.
Guidance for meter data interoperability in Europe
The European Commission issued guidance on meter data reporting to ensure a consistent and comparable approach in EU countries.
With EU rules foreseeing a new repository on electricity meter data interoperability next year, the guidance is aimed at streamlining the process and ensuring uniformity in the reporting, thereby enhancing the usability of the repository.
Accelerating the green transition: the role of digital infrastructures in decarbonising energy and mobility sectors
The ambitious EU climate neutrality targets aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. To realize this vision, fast and extensive decarbonisation efforts are necessary across all sectors.
The integration of digital technologies with energy and mobility systems is crucial for achieving these sustainability goals. A recent report by Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT, supported by the DG CONNECT, explores the transformative potential of digital infrastructures in order to advance decarbonisation at the nexus of energy and mobility.
UPCOMING OSPG PARTNER EVENTS
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo 2024, Guangzhou, China, 08-10 August 2024
SETA 2024, Bangkok, Thailand, 15-17 August 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 4-6 September 2024
EV Infrastructure and Energy Summit 2024, London, United Kingdom, 01 - 02 October 2024
Enlit Asia 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 08 - 10 October 2024
Energy Week Western Balkans, Budva, Montenegro, 9 - 10 October 2024
XVI International trade fair "EcoEnergy Expo ‑ 2024", Kyiv, Ukraine, 15-17 October 2024
Nigeria Energy, Lagos, Nigeria, 15-17 October 2024
Africa Energy Expo, Kigali, Rwanda, 4-7 November 2024
ADIPEC 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4-7 November 2024
Smart City Expo World Congress 2024, Barcelona, Spain, 5 - 7 November 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
EGYPES 2025, Cairo, Egypt, 17 - 19 February 2025
SMARTGREENS 2025, Porto, Portugal, 2 - 3 April 2025
Jun2024
MEMBER NEWS
Smart electricity meter’s contract selected. May exceed PLN 100 mln
Apator has won PGE Dystrybucja's tender to supply remote reading meters, valued at PLN 92.7 million initially, potentially reaching PLN 126.9 million with an option clause. The meters are for 1-phase and 3-phase usage by end consumers on low-voltage networks, part of a larger legislative push in Poland to install remote reading meters by 2028.
The company, known for its international presence in metering and automation solutions for energy networks, operates in three specialized business segments: Electric Power, Water and Heat, and Gas. The contract is pending finalization post any appeals from other tender participants.
The energy transition can only succeed at a European level, but will essentially be implemented locally
For more than 70 years, the European Union has stood for democracy, peace and prosperity in Europe. The European internal market is an economic success story. In the energy sector, the European Union is indispensable for a secure, environmentally friendly and affordable supply, which has been particularly evident since the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Europe stands together and is more than the sum of its parts - joint action and solidarity bring clear advantages.
At the German level, the Thüga Group, as the largest network of municipal energy and water service providers, also cultivates a special community and lives a similar sense of community. For this reason alone, we are convinced Europeans. Now Europe has voted again and the question arises as to how the transformation of our energy system will progress.
New electricity habits save consumers billions
More electric cars in Danish households contributed to the fact that 2024 began with very high electricity consumption. In January, the Danes used more electricity than ever before, and in February a monthly record was also set.
At the same time as electricity consumption increased, the more than 800,000 homes and businesses that Elnetselskabet N1 supplies with electricity were also introduced to tariff model 3.0. The new tariff model gives electricity consumers a financial carrot if they can place as much of their consumption as possible outside the peak load between 5 and 9 p.m. In particular, there is money to be saved if electricity consumption can be shifted to the night, when the grid tariffs – which are the price for have the power transported out into the sockets - is the cheapest.
Schneider Electric and DTEK Group announce Memorandum of Understanding ahead of the Ukrainian Recovery Conference
Berlin, Germany, 11 June 2024 – Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, and DTEK Group, the largest private investor in Ukraine’s energy sector, today announced a memorandum of understanding to bring innovative energy solutions to Ukraine, focusing on smart infrastructure, grid modernization, digitization, and industry solutions.
The partnership outlines a comprehensive framework for close cooperation to identify and implement projects that will enhance energy efficiency, ensure reliability of supply, and promote sustainable energy use across Ukraine.
Eneco has chosen Ferranti as its strategic IT partner to prepare its IT systems for the energy transition
Eneco wants to act as an energy manager for its customers: customers need smart, reliable and affordable solutions that lead to climate neutrality. The step towards a data and services company requires a future-oriented and, above all, an integrated vision.
Unburdening customers: that is the joint mission of Eneco and Ferranti.
MARKET NEWS
Smart grids to ensure savings of $290 bn by 2029: Juniper Research
Investment in smart grids will ensure financial savings of $290 billion by 2029 from energy and emission costs against $84 million in 2024; benefitting utilities and consumers, according to a report from Juniper Research.
The growth in financial savings from the deployment of smart grids is driven by increasing investment in solutions from governments, including the US, China, and Europe, with BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) becoming a focal point for the market.
Every school and hospital should have solar panels and smart meters - Zelensky
All public and administrative buildings must be equipped with energy-saving technologies. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky after the rate meeting and added that he expects a strategy for the development of renewable energy from the government, reports UNN.
"I expect the government to develop a strategy for the development of renewable energy and distributed generation at the state level. All public and administrative buildings must be equipped with energy-saving technologies" Zelensky said.
94 percent of all electricity meters in North America will be smart in 2029
A new research report from the IoT analyst firm Berg Insight reveals that the penetration of smart electricity meters in North America reached 80 percent in 2023.
Overall, the installed base of smart electricity meters will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.8 percent during 2023–2029, reaching a total of 182.9 million units by the end of the forecast period. Over the next six years, the penetration of smart meters in the US will increase to 94 percent while in the more advanced Canadian market, it will reach 96 percent.
What’s on the European DSOs’ technology radar?
Smart meters and dedicated metering devices are set to be ‘transformational’ in the coming years in terms of their impact on DSOs, E.DSO’s updated ‘Technology Radar’ reveals.
The ‘Technology Radar’, produced by high-level experts from a large set of European DSOs, is aimed to assess emerging technologies in terms of their impacts on DSOs over the coming decade.
EU energy ministers call for action on grids
EU energy ministers have called on the European Commission to implement without delay relevant actions of the grids action plan.
In the conclusions of the EU Energy Council meeting of May 30, the ministers approved a series of measures for an “interconnected, integrated and synchronised European electricity network” with the aim to ensure energy security, EU competitiveness and socio-economic development and the region’s energy and climate goals.
EU releases Network Code on Cybersecurity for electricity sector to boost resilience, cross-border protection
The European Union has released the inaugural EU Network Code on Cybersecurity for the electricity sector, marking a significant advancement in enhancing the cyber resilience of vital EU energy infrastructure and services. This publication is a crucial supplement to Regulation (EU) 2019/943 of the European Parliament and Council, establishing sector-specific cybersecurity regulations for cross-border electricity flows.
The Network Code on Cybersecurity will support a common level of cybersecurity for cross-border electricity flows in Europe by setting common rules to perform cybersecurity risk assessments, report cyber-attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities, and establish cybersecurity risk management. It also includes recommendations for supply chain security. The document has been developed in response to the growing digitalization and interconnection of national power systems. It provides a common standard to ensure the security and reliability of the interconnected system.
Cascading power grid failure causes blackout in BiH, Montenegro, Albania, Dalmatia
Overloads in key electricity interconnections led to a complete outage in almost entire of Montenegro while Bosnia and Herzegovina’s state-owned utility EPBiH cited “a total collapse of the electric power system”. Major blackouts occurred in Croatia’s south and many parts of Albania.
Transmission and distribution system operators are gradually stabilizing the supply of electricity after today’s unprecedented power grid failure in a large part of Southeastern Europe. The exact cause is not yet certain.
Revenue Regulation for Electricity Distribution System Operators A crucial enabler for the energy transition
Until recently, the European electricity system used to be a very stable entity generating slow organic growth. While cities expanded with an increased need for electricity, individual customers’ usage patterns were stable. For example, an electricity consumer in the 80s had the same needs as a customer in the early 10s, perhaps even a little less due to energy efficiency. However, new technology and policy changes over the past few years have changed this fundamentally
Distributed solar photovoltaics has transformed many customers in local grids into prosumers requiring additional grid capacity to export their excess solar. Couple this with the electric vehicle boom that is taking off in many European countries, the ongoing switch from gas heating to electric and the shifting residential consumption patterns and meeting the EU's renewable energy target will require a substantial increase in wind and solar power generation. As much as two and a half times by 2030.
UPCOMING OSPG PARTNER EVENTS
Global Energy Transition Congress & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 1-3 July 2024
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo 2024, Guangzhou, China, 08-10 August 2024
SETA 2024, Bangkok, Thailand, 15-17 August 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 4-6 September 2024
Enlit Asia 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 08 - 10 October 2024
XVI International trade fair "EcoEnergy Expo ‑ 2024", Kyiv, Ukraine, 15-17 October 2024
Smart City Expo World Congress 2024, Barcelona, Spain, 5 - 7 November 2024
ADIPEC 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4-7 November 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
EGYPES 2025, Cairo, Egypt, 17 - 19 February 2025
May2024
MEMBER NEWS
Flexibility in the use of electricity is still needed - more than 300,000 people would have the opportunity to take advantage of free load control
According to a citizen survey conducted by the electricity distribution company Caruna in March, 41% of people still charge their electric cars during the worst peak time for electricity use, i.e. in the evening between 18:00 and 21:00. Caruna still has around 300,000 customers who do not use load control, even though their electricity meter enables it.
In March, the distribution company Caruna sent out a survey to electric car drivers. The results showed that many people still charge their cars during the worst peak hours.
LUMA Initiates Smart Meter and Vegetation Clearing Assessments Across Puerto Rico
LUMA, which operates and manages the electric power transmission and distribution system in Puerto Rico, recently announced the start of island-wide assessments for smart meter upgrades and vegetation clearing.
“The deployment of smart meters represents a significant milestone in LUMA’s efforts to enhance reliability, efficiency, and customer experience throughout the island’s electrical grid. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, these smart meters will enable real-time monitoring, improved outage detection, and enhanced energy management capabilities for our customers,” LUMA said.
TAURON Nowa Energia - The Group announces its priorities
The new management board of TAURON bases the future of the company on seven pillars that constitute the superior values for all companies. The Group's priorities are: Customer, ESG, economic stability, employees, renewable energy, distribution infrastructure and European support. All values combined into one form the slogan: TAURON Nowa Energy.
- Like the entire market, our company is facing a great challenge, which is also an incredible motivator for us. We will offer our customers our products in the ESG standard at attractive prices, quickly approach climate neutrality while maintaining high quality of service, develop our renewable energy and distribution assets, running a profitable business for shareholders. We want to be an attractive employer and have a measurable, positive impact on the regions in which we operate. At the end of this year, we will present the company's strategy, which will specify the development paths of the entire company and its companies. The dynamization of this process already has a name: TAURON - New Energy - explains Grzegorz Lot, president of the management board of TAURON Polska Energia.
Alliander and Startupbootcamp Select 10 Startups to Accelerate the Energy System in Transition
Alliander, in partnership with Startupbootcamp, is excited to announce the selection of ten promising startups for Powered; Alliander’s startup collaboration program for the energy system in transition.
The energy transition is accelerating, demanding new approaches and technologies to ensure resilience and sustainability. Alliander, the parent company of Liander, is a Dutch DSO that develops and operates energy networks. Alliander recognizes the critical need for innovative solutions and strong partnerships to address the challenges and seize opportunities that can significantly advance the energy sector. The Powered program is fundamental to developing new technologies and strategies that will enhance the Dutch energy system and meet the evolving demands of both society and the environment.
Andel boosts a greener future with historically high investments
After investments in 2023 of 3.4 billion DKK via subsidiaries in charging networks across the country as well as expansion of the electricity network and fiber network in Zealand, Andel expects in 2024 to significantly ramp up activities within solar and wind. With the goal of taking responsibility for a greener future, renewable energy must pave the way for historically high investments of more than DKK 5 billion DKK. The group's result in 2023 was marked by an unrealized loss at Ørsted.
After a dramatic 2022 with violent price increases on the European energy markets, in 2023 all Danes could look forward to falling prices for electricity and gas. Aftermath from 2022, however, continued to affect the energy markets and affected the turnover and earnings of the energy and fiber network group Andel. This is shown in the annual accounts for 2023.
Major order for smart wallboxes
Linz, 21.05.2024: Kontron AG, a global leader in IoT technology, has been greenlit to supply smart charging stations for electric vehicles for one of the world’s largest car manufacturers. Series production will begin in July 2024.
The first stage of the contract is worth at least EUR 200 million. For the development of the fully networked charging solution, the IoT specialist is relying on the expertise of its new subsidiary eSystems, a producer of innovative charging systems, acquired at the start of the year as part of the Katek merger. “By acquiring KATEK, we have expanded our product portfolio to include high-quality products and solutions for solar energy and smart charging”, says Kontron CEO Hannes Niederhauser.
Norlys brings together the customer business – will beat the competition with coherent energy and telecommunications solutions
Norlys wants to get an even better grip on energy and telecommunications customers, and this must be done by placing the company in a completely new place compared to its competitors.
- The telecommunications market in particular is a blood-red market, where price is often the only way to differentiate yourself. But we do not believe that the market must be won by constantly being 10 kroner cheaper than the competitors. We would much rather be the best at delivering a coherent solution that makes the customers' everyday life simpler and better, says Claus Flyger Pejstrup, CEO of Norlys A/S.
MARKET NEWS
The Ministry of Energy approved the Roadmap for the development of "smart grids"
The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine has approved the Roadmap for the Development of Smart Grids, which envisages the introduction of automation and digital solutions at all levels of the power system. This initiative aims to make the power system more balanced, secure and resilient in the face of military risks. This is reported by the Ministry of Energy, UNN reports.
According to the Roadmap, the restoration of facilities damaged by Russian attacks is planned to be carried out using smart technologies. In particular, the introduction of "microgrid" technologies will help increase resilience to military factors and natural disasters.
Smart metering – a powerful tool to enrich the consumer experience
Information and actionable notifications can be inferred from smart meter data to enrich the consumer experience and ultimately deliver better services, write Rajesh Bansal and Harsh Mathur.
The power distribution system is witnessing a major transformation, especially regarding the high level of unpredictability due to renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) charging.
Utilities: To app or not to app?
As the end user ultimately covers the cost of utilities implementing smart metering solutions, it is essential to make full use of the technology. A strategy is to combine an app with the smart meter rollout to ensure the utility's financial viability and value for the consumer. Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl reports.
Globally, utilities are struggling to keep the lights on. Whether due to ageing infrastructure, network resilience challenges, or extreme weather events, electricity consumers are subjected to frequent and prolonged blackouts, resulting in a lack of public trust in utilities.
AI can significantly improve grid management reports DOE
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly improve key areas of grid management, a new US Department of Energy report finds.
The report, focussed on potential opportunities for AI in the grid, finds that AI is able to improve grid planning, permitting, operations and reliability and resilience as well to advance the broader transition to a clean energy economy.
The Local Energy Revolution: How Energy Sharing Is Changing the Energy World
Munich/Pforzheim, April 2024 – Energy sharing is a trending topic worldwide as it offers great opportunities for the decentralized energy transition. It opens up new ways for private individuals to benefit from the expansion of renewable energies without too much complication. Energy sharing allows citizens to co-finance local solar installations, to use the solar power themselves, and to sell surplus electricity. This innovative concept incentivizes the installation of PV modules and the local consumption of renewable energy.
Citizen energy communities are already participating in wind and solar parks, but they cannot use the generated electricity themselves. Uncomplicated models for supplying local consumers with electricity from PV systems are often missing. The EU’s ongoing electricity market reform, which was adopted by the European Parliament in April 2024, shifts the focus to energy sharing to promote a sustainable energy supply.
Grid digitalisation can improve power system efficiency in Europe, but untapped potential remains
Europe’s electricity grid is undergoing a massive transformation driven by ambitious decarbonisation. A new power system is emerging from the traditional transmission-heavy model where small-scale renewables, electric vehicles and heat pumps connect directly to the distribution level. To enable this evolution, distribution system operators (DSOs) must expand, modernise and digitalise the grid.
Eurelectric conducted a study to assess the digital maturity of European DSOs. Digitalisation can largely improve efficiency when building, operating and maintaining the electricity grid, but several bottlenecks hamper its full potential.
UPCOMING OSPG PARTNER EVENTS
National Conference for Microgrids 2024, Cambridge, USA, 5 - 6 June 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
EM-Power Europe 2024, Munich, Germany, 19-21 June 2024 (exhibition), 18-19 June 2024 (conference)
5th Annual India Power Conference, New Delhi, India, 20-21 June 2024
Global Energy Transition Congress & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 1-3 July 2024
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo 2024, Guangzhou, China, 08-10 August 2024
SETA 2024, Bangkok, Thailand, 15-17 August 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 4-6 September 2024
Enlit Asia 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 08 - 10 October 2024
XVI International trade fair "EcoEnergy Expo ‑ 2024", Kyiv, Ukraine, 15-17 October 2024
ADIPEC 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4-7 November 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
EGYPES 2025, Cairo, Egypt, 17 - 19 February 2025
Apr2024
MEMBER NEWS
E.ON installing 165,000 smart meters in Hungary
E.ON Hungária Group is currently installing more than 165,000 new smart meters in Transdanubia and Pest County in west and central Hungary, including the capital Budapest.
The smart meter installation forms part of a major rollout, with 650,000 smart meters installed to date. Two-thirds are operated by E.ON.
Electricity from the sun is more available. TAURON supports the efficiency of photovoltaics
A household using an energy storage facility can achieve up to twice as much autoconsumption of energy from home photovoltaics - estimate TAURON experts. This is crucial for the efficiency of home solar power production. The group started activities supporting the preparation of home photovoltaics for cooperation with energy storage facilities.
- There are already over 432 thousand in the TAURON network. micro-installations. We stimulate the development of home photovoltaics because we know that in the long term it can generate significant savings for households - says Mariusz Purat, president of the management board of TAURON Głos. - The better suited the photovoltaic installation and the greater the autoconsumption - the greater the savings, which is why we support the preparation of new installations for cooperation with energy storage facilities. This is particularly important in the context of subsequent subsidy programs and the soon entry into force of the dynamic tariff - emphasizes Mariusz Purat.
The power station being built in Kolrimanta will ease the capacity shortage in Espoo, but the limits will soon be met
In Espoo, industry, transport and forms of heating have been electrified at a rapid pace in recent years. With the increased use of electricity, the capacity of the network will meet. The ongoing energy transition requires the development of the electricity network so that security of supply is not affected. The power station being built in Kolrimanta will ease the capacity shortage.
The city of Espoo has an ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality in 2030. To reach the goal, heating methods are being changed from fossil-based production, such as coal power, to air-water heat pumps and electric boilers. In order to achieve the carbon-neutral goal, new power stations and power lines must be built quickly in Espoo. A new 11 kilometer power line is planned between Hepokorpi and Finnoo.
Alliander changes top structure
Alliander's top structure is being expanded with the introduction of an Executive Committee. In addition to the four statutory members of the Board of Directors, two non-statutory directors sit on it. These are the current Director of Digitalization Rinke van de Rhee, in the position of Chief Digital Officer (CDO) and current Director of HRM Heleen Cocu, in the position of Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO).
Alliander's role in society is growing, the organization is growing. This task requires being able to manage with maximum attention and focus. That is why the entire digitalization task on the one hand and the major labor market and organizational transformation on the other hand are being assigned to two new roles in the top structure. The Board of Directors remains legally responsible for the organization.
Clever's biggest: Now the giga lightning charging station in Aabenraa is open
On Thursday, Clever opened its largest lightning charging station to date, where as many as 30 electric cars can be lightning charged simultaneously. The station is located on Egevej 8 by the E45 motorway (Rødekro/Brunde), where a completely new experience concept will also be introduced towards September.
The wait is now over for travelers and local electric drivers in Southern Jutland who want even more opportunities to get lightning-fast power in their car. On Thursday, Clever opened its largest lightning charging station to date at Egevej 8 in Aabenraa.
IN CONVERSATION WITH… Tim van Amstel, CEO E.ON One
The new E.ON subsidiary E.ON One is largely dedicated to the digitalization of electricity grids. What is the background?
E.ON is 100 percent committed to the energy transition and is relying on digitalization as one of its three strategic pillars. With the founding of E.ON One, we are offering digital solutions for the rapid implementation of the energy transition from a single source. However, the energy transition is not a solo effort. That is why we want to learn from each other in a unique ecosystem and develop the best solutions together. To do this, we are bundling our knowledge and the Group's own solutions with those of our start-ups such as envelio or gridX in one portfolio. By bringing all these different innovative solutions to market for the first time, we want to share our knowledge and technology. Because for a comprehensive energy transition, all players must be equipped with the necessary tools. To this end, we will gradually expand our product portfolio and see ourselves as a long-term companion to the energy transition.
MARKET NEWS
India Smart Meter Market to Reach USD 3,179.5 Million By 2032, at 34.57% CAGR: Astute Analytica
The Indian smart meter market is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by a strong government push towards grid modernization and energy efficiency. The goal of installing 250 million smart meters nationwide by 2025 highlights the scale of this transformation. North India is at the forefront of India's smart meter deployment.
New Delhi, April 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the latest Astute Analytica research, the India smart meter market is projected to attain a market size of US$ 3,179.5 million by 2032 from US$ 219.7 million in 2023 at a CAGR of 34.57% during the forecast period 2024–2032.
166 key cross-border energy projects published
The European Commission has published the first list of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs) in the Official Journal of the European Union. The selected projects will help to achieve the ambitious energy and climate objectives of the European Green Deal.
The 166 projects on the list will benefit from streamlined permit-granting and regulatory support, and makes them eligible for EU financing from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). For the new projects to apply for EU funding, the Commission will launch a first call for PCIs and PMIs before the second half of April 2024, with a deadline at the end of October 2024.
Smart Combination: PV, Storage Systems, E-Mobility and Heat Pumps
Clever ways for private consumers to become independent in terms of electricity, heat and transportation – and new business opportunities for installers and systems providers.
19.3 million – that’s the number of residential buildings in Germany. Over the next 20 years, more than half of these buildings will need to be renovated and fitted with photovoltaics (PV). But this is not just true for Germany – residential buildings play a central role in PV deployment all across Europe. More and more buildings that already have solar panels are now being equipped with storage systems, a combination that is becoming the standard for new installations. This allows the needs-based use of the generated solar power.
Electrification could overwhelm energy grids. Startups are betting on AI to make sure that doesn't happen.
As more cars, stoves, and heating systems are electrified, a lot of strain will be put on decades-old grids in the US and Europe.
In the US, over 70% of transmission lines are over 25 years old, while about 40% of Europe's distribution grids are over 40. Faulty infrastructure can lead to blackouts, vulnerability to cyberattacks, or other emergencie
Research shows smart utility meters drive down manufacturing costs if data is used to drive operations
INDIANAPOLIS – A new study detailing how the use of smart utility meters can improve energy efficiency in manufacturing finds that the willingness of managers to make use of the technology is a key driver in reducing energy consumption and related costs. The research serves as a proof-of-concept for using event system theory, which has historically been used to understand the impact of unexpected phenomena and the practical effects of planned business actions – such as adopting new technologies.
“We wanted to see how effective smart utility meters are at reducing energy consumption in the manufacturing sector and which factors of the implementation approach might play a role there,” said Patrick Flynn, the lead author and assistant professor of human resources at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management. Smart utility meters provide manufacturing managers real-time data on power consumption, which they can use to make strategic, informed decisions about how to operate more effectively and sustainably.
What’s on the DSO agenda in Europe in the year ahead
The DSO Entity has released its work plan for 2024 with three major projects highlighted – the integration of gas DSOs, the grid action plan and a technical vision.
While 2024 marks something of a transition in the EU, with European parliamentary elections in June and the ending of the current phase of legislative activities and the restart thereafter of the next phase, the work of organisations such as the DSO Entity remains with action points that have been set out in earlier legislation.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oman Sustainability Week, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 28 April - 2 May 2024
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
Future Energy Asia 2024, Bangkok, Thailand, 15-17 May 2024
Enlit Africa 2024, Cape Town, South Africa, 21-23 May 2024
The 8th Iran International Renewable Energy Conference & Exhibition (Iran REC 2024), Tehran, Iran, 26-27 May 2024
Lisbon Energy Summit & Exhibition 2024, Lisbon, Portugal, 27-29 May 2024
National Conference for Microgrids 2024, Cambridge, USA, 5 - 6 June 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
EM-Power Europe 2024, Munich, Germany, 19-21 June 2024 (exhibition), 18-19 June 2024 (conference)
5th Annual India Power Conference, New Delhi, India, 20-21 June 2024
Global Energy Transition Congress & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 1-3 July 2024
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo 2024, Guangzhou, China, 08-10 August 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 4-6 September 2024
Enlit Asia 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 08 - 10 October 2024
XVI International trade fair "EcoEnergy Expo ‑ 2024", Kyiv, Ukraine, 15-17 October 2024
ADIPEC 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4-7 November 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
EGYPES 2025, Cairo, Egypt, 17 - 19 February 2025
Mar2024
MEMBER NEWS
OSGP Alliance already 10 years in TAURON Dystrybucja SA TAURON Group
Tens of millions of readings, hundreds of thousands of meters, several suppliers - all safely, effectively and innovatively!
It all started in 2002 at Enel Group during the implementation of 40 million smart meters - so far the largest and safest implementation of smart grids worldwide. Then, based on the results of the technology's effectiveness, OSGP meters were mass-applied to Vattenfall Fortum E.ON and many other DSOs in Europe in the following years. In 2014, TAURON Dystrybucja SA joined this group.
E.ON to invest 42 billion euros in Europe’s energy transition
From 2024 through 2028, energy group E.ON plans to invest 42 billion euros in Europe’s energy transition. About 70 per cent of the investments will be made in Germany.
“We again defied challenging circumstances in the financial year 2023,” said CEO Leonhard Birnbaum. “And we again delivered very good results that exceeded our expectations. […] This makes E.ON one of the leading companies for the energy transition in Europe.”
Dutch demand continues to outstrip supply despite record grid investments
Despite record investments into power grid expansion to accommodate demand, grid operators Alliander, Enexis and Stedin have reported insufficient capacity to prevent increasing network congestion.
According to Alliander, traffic jams will recur on the Dutch electricity network for at least another 10 years.
The network company N1 is changing its name
The number of electric cars is exploding, and several thousand Danes have replaced the oil boiler with an electric heat pump. At the same time, more solar cells and wind turbines are popping up around the country to ensure a green electricity supply.
All of this places great demands on our electricity grid, which in recent years has gone from being considered a matter of course to being the critical backbone of the rapid electrification of society and the green transition. That is why Netselskabet N1, which supplies 800,000 homes and businesses with electricity, is now changing its name to Elnetselskabet N1 and at the same time introducing a new visual identity.
Three times more solar power was connected to the grid in Hyvinkää than three years ago - companies are thinking more about their energy solutions than before
The electricity distribution company Caruna built an electricity connection for a logistics center in Värnkää, which will have 1450 solar panels. In Hyvinkää, the number of solar power plants connected to the grid has tripled in three years.
Clean transition is no longer the future but the present. Many companies place importance on energy efficiency already in the planning and construction phase. This was also done at Kesko's new logistics center in Onnela.
Now the car holiday becomes easier: 650,000 charging points gathered in the new Norlys app
Seven different apps and three different charging chips to pay for charging the car. This has been the reality for many electric car owners, especially when they have been on long road trips around Europe. But now it will be much easier, for example, to drive on Easter holidays in an electric car. A new charging app from Norlys gives access to more than 650,000 public charging points in most of Europe.
- Our ambition is that it should be both easy and clear to choose the electric car, and therefore it must not be difficult as an electric driver to go on a long drive either in Denmark or Europe. Many will soon be driving on the Easter holiday, and now they can make do with one app regardless of whether the trip goes across the country or Europe, says Ellen Trolle, director of Norlys' charging station business.
MARKET NEWS
Europe Smart Metering Report 2024: The Installed Base of Smart Energy Meters to Reach 326 Million Across Europe by 2028 - ResearchAndMarkets.com
More than 56 percent of the electricity customers in EU27+3 had a smart meter at the end of 2022 - a figure that is forecasted to increase to as much as 78 percent in 2028. In terms of shipments, smart meters accounted for around 80 percent of total EU27+3 electricity meter shipments in 2022. Italy, which is currently in the midst of its second-generation rollout, was the largest market in terms of shipments with around 2.6 million units installed during the year.
The United Kingdom was the second largest market by volume with yearly shipments of more than 2.5 million units, a number that should have been higher if the British utilities met their installation targets for the year. The third largest market was Sweden, which is in the midst of its second-generation deployment, with yearly shipments of around 1.4-1.5 million units. Poland and France also made their way in the top five in terms of shipment volumes. Other markets with large installation volumes during the year included Austria and Belgium.
Spain: EIB and Iberdrola agree a €700 million green loan for power grid expansion
The European Investment Bank (EIB) approved a €700 million green loan to expand Iberdrola’s electricity-distribution grid in Spain. An initial, €500 million tranche was signed in Madrid by EIB Director General for European Union Operations, Jean-Christophe Laloux, and Iberdrola Finance, Control and Corporate Development Director José Sainz Armada.
The total investment under the project amounts to €1.44 billion, with the remaining €740 million provided by Iberdrola. The aim is to improve the efficiency and resilience of the power grid, enable more renewable-energy sources to be connected and facilitate new uses such as heat pumps and electric vehicles driving forward energy transition and decarbonisation of the Spanish electricity sector.
Europe’s DSOs set out Green Deal infrastructure priorities for distribution grids
European DSO organisations DSO Entity, E.DSO and Eurelectric have set out the most pressing priorities for the distribution grids for action within the current European Commission.
These can be organised in two clusters in which concrete business cases/good practices should be developed, namely:
Grid Operators Are Running Out of Time
Smart secondary substations are critical to the energy transition because they shed light on untransparent low-voltage grids. Traditional grids provide little insight into the actual capacities and the dynamics of energy flows. As the share of renewables grows and demand increases, it is important to have accurate data on grid performance. Smart stations enable precise visualization and monitoring of the grid, which is essential for optimizing and streamlining grid operations. This transparency is crucial for integrating renewable sources of energy and for ensuring a reliable electricity supply.
Compared to the rest of Europe, Germany is lagging behind in the deployment of smart meters. Where does it stand in terms of digitalization and the ability to monitor low-voltage grids?
Setting of smart electricity meters starts in Moldova
Chisinau, 22 March /MOLDPRES/ - The Premier Energy Distribution stock company has started works of setting the smart electricity meters, established within a pilot project launched by Moldova’s government, in line with national plan on digitalization of the energy sector with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Moldova). Three thousand meters will be set at the first stage.
The works of setting smart meters are presently carried out in the Chisinau city and in six settlements from the capital’s suburbs. In its distribution area, the distribution operator in 2024 will set 20,000 smart meters in more than 100 settlements from southern Moldova, selected according to the technical, economic and sociological criteria of study.
New network code on cybersecurity for EU electricity sector
The European Commission has today adopted the first-ever EU network code on cybersecurity for the electricity sector (C/2024/1383). Foreseen under the Electricity Regulation (EU) 2019/943 (Article 59) and in the 2022 EU Action Plan to digitalise the energy system, this delegated act is an important step to improve the cyber resilience of critical EU energy infrastructure and services. It will support a high, common level of cybersecurity for cross-border electricity flows in Europe. The dossier now passes to the Council and European Parliament to scrutinise the text and the rules will enter into force once this period is over.
The network code aims to establish a recurrent process of cybersecurity risk assessments in the electricity sector. These assessments are aimed at systematically identifying the entities that perform digitalised processes with a critical or high impact in cross-border electricity flows, their cybersecurity risks, and then the necessary mitigating measures that are needed. For that, this network code establishes a governance model that uses and is aligned with existing mechanisms established in horizontal EU legislation, notably the revised Network and Information Security Directive (NIS2).
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oman Sustainability Week, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 28 April - 2 May 2024
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 8-10 May 2024
Enlit Africa 2024, Cape Town, South Africa, 21-23 May 2024
Lisbon Energy Summit & Exhibition 2024, Lisbon, Portugal, 27-29 May 2024
National Conference for Microgrids 2024, Cambridge, USA, 5 - 6 June 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
EM-Power Europe 2024, Munich, Germany, 19-21 June 2024 (exhibition), 18-19 June 2024 (conference)
5th Annual India Power Conference, New Delhi, India, 20-21 June 2024
Global Energy Transition Congress & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 1-3 July 2024
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo 2024, Guangzhou, China, 08-10 August 2024
Enlit Asia 2024, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 08 - 10 October 2024
XVI International trade fair "EcoEnergy Expo ‑ 2024", Kyiv, Ukraine, 15-17 October 2024
ADIPEC 2024, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 4-7 November 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
EGYPES 2025, Cairo, Egypt, 17 - 19 February 2025
Feb2024
MEMBER NEWS
A record year for TAURON. Investments at all stress levels
TAURON spent PLN 2.77 billion on power networks in 2023. Approximately 70,000 investment tasks were completed at all stress levels. In 2024, expenditure is planned to increase to PLN 3 billion. These funds will be allocated mainly to connecting new customers to the network.
TAURON assumes connecting approximately 45,000 new customers, expanding and improving the condition of the power grid, including improving flexibility and network automation. An important project continued this year will be the replacement of electricity meters with modern remote reading meters.
€110 million fund for the digitalisation of the energy transition established
E.ON, the European Investment Fund (EIF) and Future Energy Ventures (FEV) jointly foster smart innovations for the energy transition with the help of a newly established fund. The fund managed by FEV already has a volume of €110 million and a target size of €250 million. Both E.ON and the EIF are holding a mid double-digit million euro stake as anchor investors. The fund invests primarily in start-ups and scale-ups that develop and implement digital solutions to drive the energy transition.
The capital of the fund is allocated entirely towards sustainable investments across three core investment themes with clear decarbonization potential: future energy, future cities, and future technologies. With an average initial ticket size of between €1-10 million for early-stage investments, it aims to target thirty new investments located in the innovation hubs of Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Future investors benefit from the partners' expertise in the energy sector.
Andel and Lolland Energi Holding agree on the takeover of Nakskov Elnet
The electricity grid plays a decisive role in the green transition, where electricity consumption will increase and production from solar cells and wind turbines will fluctuate. Volume, development power and large investments in the electrical infrastructure are necessary. This is the reason why the energy and fiber network group Andel has entered into an agreement with Lolland Energi Holding A/S to take over Nakskov Elnet.
In the future, several of our everyday activities will be powered by electricity instead of oil, coal and gas. Electricity consumption is already increasing due to the many new electric cars and heat pumps that are running in private homes and businesses. The electrification of Danish society is a crucial stepping stone in the green transformation of energy, and here reinforcements and investments in the electrical infrastructure are necessary.
Apator will earn millions as a subcontractor. Orders may flow until the end of 2026.
Apator, as a subcontractor, will provide systems for balancing medium voltage stations and ensuring communication with remote reading meters. The final recipient of the balancing systems is Energa Operator, the company announced.
Apator informed that as a subcontractor it will deliver integrated balancing systems. They are used to balance medium voltage stations and ensure communication with remote reading meters.
Duke Energy shares ways to save energy and money as winter temperatures in Florida continue to fluctuate
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – As winter temperatures continue to fluctuate in Florida, Duke Energy is reminding customers of resources, tips and tools to help them manage energy usage and reduce their utility bills.
For December and January, Duke Energy meteorologists reported peak highs in the upper 70s to mid-80s, with peak lows in the 30s and mid-40s. And while these temperature swings are typical for Florida winters, it’s important for customers who turn to both heating and cooling during these months to follow these easy, low-cost, no-cost tips to save energy and money
Caruna data: electricity use increased in all customer segments - the most in Naantali, Närpiö and Espoo
The municipalities in the distribution area of the electricity distribution company Caruna, where temperature-corrected electricity use increased the most in 2023 compared to December of the previous year, were Naantali, Närpiö and Espoo. In Naantali, the increase in electricity consumption was 53%, in Närpiö 32% and in Espoo 22%.
"The clean transition is about a change in the way electricity is produced and consumed, which means electrification of heating in cities, for example. The growth in Espoo and Naantali is driven by the electrification of district heating and industry. In Närpiö, the price of electricity is reflected in the consumption, as the consumption of agricultural customers is flexible according to the market situation," says Caruna's Customer Service Director Kosti Rautiainen.
MARKET NEWS
Poland: EIB continues to support strategic modernisation plan for ENEA’s distribution network
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has now approved financing of PLN 2 billion to renovate and modernise the electricity distribution network of ENEA S.A. in western Poland. The first tranche for PLN 1 billion was signed in December 2023, and the second for an equal amount was signed today.
The financed investments are expected to boost the reliability and security of Poland’s electricity supply, facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, and address the growing demand due to population growth and the progressive electrification of the economy. The direct beneficiary of the financing will be ENEA Operator Sp. z o.o., a company in the ENEA Group responsible for operating the distribution network.
Distribution grids take control
Industry News – February 1, 2024
Solutions for more transparency and controllability in low-voltage grids
The energy transition depends on decentralization and relies on the increased electrification of heating and mobility. This puts a tremendous strain on distribution grids. So far, only a few local grid companies are tapping into the potential of digitalization for monitoring and stabilizing their grids.
Not everything was better back in the olden days, but the operation of power grids was certainly less complicated. The energy used to flow from large-scale power stations to consumers, whose load profile was more or less predictable. Transmission systems transported the electricity across long distances, and in the distribution grids, the voltage was reduced level by level until reaching the consumer’s home.
Today, many small PV systems feed electricity into the distribution grids while electric cars and heat pumps create peak loads. On top of that, energy management systems and residential storage systems enable consumers to shift their consumption to other times of the day. The majority are programmed to promote consumer independence from the power grid, often influenced by electricity market incentives. In the future, they might supply operating reserves to stabilize the frequency of the higher-level transmission system. As a result of all this, it has become hard to estimate how much electricity flows in which direction when, using only standardized profiles.
The clean energy economy demands massive integration investments now
The expansion of renewable energy and electrification is growing rapidly in many parts of the world as momentum behind the global energy transition gathers pace. While the renewable energy technologies driving this change are well-known and, in many cases, cost competitive with fossil fuels, the fundamental infrastructure required for their deployment is lagging. Insufficient grid capacity to integrate growing shares of renewable energy with demand centres is threatening to undermine progress and potentially stifle future investment.
The lack of grid capacity has significant implications for international climate and energy goals too. And the task to correct it is daunting. Globally, over 80 million kilometres of grid infrastructure will need to be added or refurbished worldwide by 2040 if countries are to fulfil their national climate commitments on time and in full. That is the equivalent of doubling the length of the existing grids worldwide.
Energy experts call for better smart meters to help reduce drain on electricity grid
In mid-January, Albertans got an alert warning them the provincial electricity grid was under so much pressure there was a risk of rolling blackouts. Fortunately, people responded and consumption went down.
Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade Nathan Neudorf said the emergency alert was “an important lesson in energy conservation and demand-side management. This includes looking for ways to better use the power we have, how we can better integrate solar panels on homes, smart charging on EVs, smart metering on homes and other steps and advancements.”
Space data increasingly important for smart grid – EUSPA
Space data is playing an increasingly important role in the energy sector, from grid balancing to permitting processes, the EU Agency for Space Programs (EUSPA) highlights in its latest market report.
The report, which lumps raw materials in with its review of the energy sector, points to the leveraging of space data for network condition monitoring and phasor measurement units (PMUs), among other energy sector applications.
ME: Distribution network financing contracts of 646 mln. euro through the Modernization Fund
The Ministry of Energy announces the signing of 21 more financing contracts within the Modernization Fund, Key Program 3- Support for the expansion and modernization of the electricity distribution network. The total value of the projects is of about 3.2 billion lei (3,214,137,593.33 lei), the equivalent of about 646 million euro (646,018,851.79) euro. The total value of the state aid granted from the Modernization Fund is of 2,081,721,527.33 lei, the equivalent of 418,411,257.07 euro.
“Until this moment, the Ministry of Energy has ensured, through the Modernization Fund, the financing of 38 projects that contribute substantially to the expansion and modernization of the electricity distribution network, for which the total amount of state aid amounts to 2,951,936,204.43 lei, the equivalent of 593,318,232.96 euro,” the ME press release states.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Smart Energy Indonesia 2024, Jakarta, Indonesia, 6-8 March 2024
SGTech Week 2024, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 18-22 March 2024
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-21 March 2024
Oman Sustainability Week, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 28 April - 2 May 2024
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 8-10 May 2024
Enlit Africa 2024, Cape Town, South Africa, 21-23 May 2024
EM-Power Europe 2024, Munich, Germany, 19-21 June 2024 (Exhibition), 18-19 June 2024 (Conference)
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
5th Annual India Power Conference, New Delhi, India, 20-21 June 2024
Global Energy Transition Congress & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 1-3 July 2024
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
XVI International trade fair "EcoEnergy Expo ‑ 2024", Kyiv, Ukraine, 15-17 October 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
Jan2024
MEMBER NEWS
The Smart Meter Consumer Port Gains Momentum
Providing Real-Time Insights for Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings
The initial motivation mandating smart meter rollouts was the fact that consumers need to be aware of the energy they use, as a first step in changing consumer behavior. Some groups within the industry believed providing next day or even bi-monthly consumption data would be sufficient. Of course, instant insight of the actual consumption by day, hour, or even device provides the real information required to trigger behavior change, and this propelled the architecture of a smart meter to include a home consumer interface. However, initially the industry did not define what the interface was or how it should look.
The Netherlands was the first country that standardized the consumer interface, and afterwards, more countries have followed them or are in the process of defining a standard for the home interface. The OSGP Alliance was involved from the early stages in the Netherlands to define a low cost, effective manner to provide the information to the consumer, now referred to as P1 (port 1) in the Netherlands. And the OSGP Alliance has continued to support efforts in other countries as well to ensure that OSGP members are able to meet the requirements of utilities throughout Europe and around the world.
Consumption flexibility increased - up to 8,000 Caruna customers scheduled electricity consumption outside of peak hours with the electricity load control service
The frost period at the beginning of January increases Finland's electricity consumption. Last winter, many people learned to schedule their electricity consumption outside of peak hours. In 2023, around 8,000 Caruna customers used the service, which makes it easy to schedule consumption, for example at night.
Last year, Caruna's customers more actively timed their consumption at night and outside of the more expensive peak consumption hours. Moni used the electric load control service. With the help of the free service, the small house dweller can schedule the heating devices to start at a suitable time.
750 million for new investments
TAURON concluded a loan agreement for the amount of PLN 750 million with Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. The funds from the loan will be used to finance or refinance expenditure on investments in renewable energy sources and the development of distribution networks.
The loan obtained from Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego is another source of financing for the implementation of two priority investment directions of the TAURON Group, i.e.: construction of renewable energy sources and modernization and development of power grids.
Vattenfall Energy Savings Barometer: Money motivates most Europeans to save energy
To save energy continues to be relevant in Europeans everyday life. 95 percent of the French say it is very or rather relevant. Money is the strongest motivational driver to save energy followed by saving natural resources. The most popular actions to take are to use fewer lights, to reduce shower time and to cook with lid. All according to the results in Vattenfall’s latest energy savings barometer.
In all countries, saving energy continues to be very important. The fact that relevance remains steady, regardless of the season or media attention, many consumers have made energy-saving a part of their everyday lives. The French show an even higher level of attentiveness compared to the other nations.
E.ON opens largest manufacturer-independent test and innovation center for electromobility
The expansion of public and private charging infrastructure continues to gather pace across Germany and Europe. This is why E.ON is investing heavily in its electromobility solutions business. In this context, the company today opened a new, state-of-the-art test and innovation center for charging technologies and sustainable energy solutions.
At the new site in Essen, E.ON is testing and researching charging solutions for electric vehicles and their intelligent integration into the energy ecosystem. On an area of around 10,000 square meters, more than 25 stations and digital test environments are available for testing vehicles, charging stations, wallboxes and accessories. The test lab also has five special climate chambers. These allow E.ON engineers to simulate all temperature conditions that occur around the world, from freezing cold to extreme heat. For example, the charging behavior of electric cars can be tested at temperatures between minus 40 and plus 50 degrees Celsius. This means that customers such as car manufacturers do not have to carry out time-consuming and costly tests in real environments. In addition to research and development, E.ON also uses the test center to train its customers and partners in installation and maintenance.
Better Energy and Andel jointly invest billions in new energy parks
The energy company Better Energy and the energy and fiber network group Andel are joining forces for a historically large joint investment of billions in the green transition. The investment must ensure the supply of renewable energy through new energy parks in Denmark. The partnership expects to build 15 parks, and the first four are expected to be connected to the electricity grid already this year and next year.
Andel and Better Energy have entered into a 50/50 partnership with the ambition to build around 15 solar parks in Denmark in the period 2024-2028. The two partners will each own 50 percent of the completed solar parks, and Better Energy will be responsible for the development, construction and technical operation of the parks. There are also ambitions for joint efforts in energy storage, such as batteries, and nature and biodiversity initiatives in the partnership.
Kontron acquires majority stake in Katek SE and expands leading position in the IoT market
Linz, 18 January 2024 – Kontron AG today agreed to acquire around 60% of the shares in the listed company KATEK SE. The buyer is the wholly owned German subsidiary Kontron Acquisition GmbH, which is acquiring the shares from the previous Katek majority shareholder PRIMEPULSE SE. The purchase price per share is EUR 15.00 for a total of 8,587,138 shares. Subject to conditions precedent (antitrust law), the transaction is expected to be completed by March 2024. Kontron expects the acquisition to significantly strengthen its own portfolio of renewable “green” energy solutions and the aerospace segment.
The Katek Group is a leading European electronics company that offers high-quality electronics and products in the fields of solar energy and e-mobility. With more than 3,200 employees, Katek generated estimated revenue of more than EUR 750 million in the 2023 financial year and has locations in Europe, Asia, and North America. Control electronics for photovoltaic systems and the rapidly growing area of intelligent charging solutions for electric vehicles are an important part of the product range. Along with its subsidiaries, Katek is one of the pioneers in renewable energy technology.
MARKET NEWS
DOE $70M grid security and resilience funding targets cybersecurity, wildfires, other risks
DOE enters 2024 looking to protect “all types of energy delivery infrastructure” from a growing array of threats. The new funding will focus on innovative and unique solutions that are not “one size fits all,” the agency said.
“Making smart investments in America’s energy systems today is essential to ensuring they’re more reliable and resilient against tomorrow’s threats,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement. “These investments will help save money in the long run by identifying and developing innovative solutions.”
Technology Trending: What to look out for in 2024
Decentralisation, blockchain and AI, the future grid and the space race are some of the areas in which numerous advances have been made in 2023 and are set to continue during 2024.
Over the course of 2023 – and indeed since its start in mid-2022 – this column has not been short of possible new and future technology content to feature. But for this one I have decided to take a forward look to 2024 – and would invite your feedback on its focus and style for the year ahead.
Algorithm developed for smart grid autonomy during emergencies
Researchers from Greece’s Centre for Research and Technology (CERTH) have developed an algorithm to maximise the autonomy of the smart grid under emergency conditions.
The algorithm, developed by CERTH as part of the EU-funded microgrid project TIGON, prioritises renewable energy sources (RES) and utilises artificial neural networks to provide forecasts related to intermittent RES production.
German energy regulators push for major grid reforms
Amid increasing challenges for grid operators in the wake of the energy transition, Germany’s energy regulator has proposed major changes to the nation’s grid system. The Bundesnetzagentur has published a key elements paper outlining the future of cost and incentive regulation across the electricity and gas network sectors.
The plan focuses on shortening the regulatory period from five to three years to adapt to faster changes in costs incurred by network operators. One of the proposals for streamlining the regulatory process is to replace current individualised determinations of capital costs for new projects with the application of a weighted average cost of capital formula to evaluate the costs of new developments.
Poland: EIB provides PLN 1 billion in financing to support strategic modernisation plan of ENEA S.A.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed an agreement to finance the renovation and modernisation of the electricity distribution network of ENEA S.A. in western Poland. This investment of PLN 1 billion is expected to boost the reliability and security of the electricity supply in Poland, facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, and address the growing demand stemming from population growth and the progressive electrification of the economy. The direct beneficiary of the financing will be ENEA Operator Sp. z o.o., a company in the ENEA S.A. Group responsible for operating the distribution network.
EIB Vice-President Teresa Czerwińska said: “Supporting the REPowerEU objective of reducing dependence on energy imports is of the utmost importance, and we are happy to strengthen the EIB’s partnership with ENEA by way of this agreement. This investment will not only accelerate the transformation and decarbonisation of the Polish energy sector but will also contribute to the creation of new jobs and strengthen economic development.”
Connecticut set to adopt smart electric grid with new framework
Connecticut is moving forward with plans to further update the state’s electric grid through Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). On Wednesday, the Public Utilities Regulatory Agency (PURA) voted unanimously to adopt a new framework for rolling out these updates.
AMI attempts to control the cost of electricity for consumers through a “smart” system, essentially using artificial intelligence software to monitor how much energy a home is using, communicate faster with the utility, and monitor outages, among other usages. According to a report September 2016 report from the U.S. Department of Energy, the system could also allow utilities to implement time-based pricing, raising or lowering rates based on peak usage to encourage customers to scale back at peak times.
UPCOMING EVENTS
India Energy Week 2024, GOA, India, 06-09 February 2024
EGYPES 2024, Egypt, Cairo, 19-21 February 2024
GridTECH Connect Forum, Orlando, USA, 26 February 2024
DISTRIBUTECH International, Orlando, USA, 26-29 February 2024
Smart Energy Indonesia 2024, Jakarta, Indonesia, 6-8 March 2024
Power Europe 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 13-15 March 2024
SGTech Week 2024, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 18-22 March 2024
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-21 March 2024
Oman Sustainability Week, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 28 April - 2 May 2024
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 8-10 May 2024
Enlit Africa 2024, Cape Town, South Africa, 28-30 May 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
5th Annual India Power Conference, New Delhi, India, 20-21 June 2024
Global Energy Transition Congress & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 1-3 July 2024
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
Dec2023
MEMBER NEWS
TAURON supports prosumers. Via eLicznik
The TAURON eLicznik application has gained functionality supporting photovoltaics owners. Thanks to the new solution, prosumers will be able to obtain precise information on the amount of energy consumed and released both before and after hourly balancing. This means that measurement data reflected on invoices is available in the application.
From April 2022, prosumer billing is based on the total amount of energy balanced in each hour. Therefore, on the invoice, customers are billed for the amount of energy that exceeds their self-consumption each hour.
Companies in energy transition are looking for staff with the help of AI
The Netherlands must be climate neutral by 2050. Contractors, installers and grid operators are busy with the largest renovation of the energy system ever. Many people work on the energy transition every day. The reality, however, is that this is insufficient to achieve the climate objectives. Because to do all that work, another 60,000 people will be needed in the coming years. There are many hidden talents that can contribute to the energy transition. Seven companies, including Alliander, have therefore founded the Labor Match Platform. A social start-up that searches for untapped potential in the labor market with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
Technically trained personnel are scarce. Without intervention, sustainability in the Netherlands will come to a standstill. At the same time, many people unknowingly have the skills needed for a job in the energy transition. For example, consider a baker who has fine motor skills for his work. A skill that is also very useful for a lot of installation work.
E.ON launches generative AI ‘assistant’
E.ON has introduced ’E.ON GPT’ as a digital employee in its workforce to support the implementation of the energy transition.
E.ON GPT, E.ON’s generative artificial intelligence with energy expertise, is available to all 74,000 employees to access its functions and energy-specific knowledge.
The Energy Agency's draft control methods for 2024–2031 puts investments in electricity networks at risk
The Energy Agency presents harmful and poorly prepared changes to the current control methods. When implemented, the changes will weaken the crisis resilience of Finnish society. The changes would lead to cuts in electricity network investments, in which case the development projects of a clean transition, security of supply and an electrifying society would be significantly delayed. Caruna is very concerned about the Energy Agency's supervision model proposal. The changes presented to it after the 1st opinion round are cosmetic in nature and do not improve the company's investment ability in a significant way.
"The proposed supervision model proposal endangers our ability to invest in the Finnish electricity grid and endangers our basic task, i.e. the ability to take care of Finland's security of supply. The presented changes will lead to a cut in investments and thus to a deterioration of electricity supply security and Finnish security of supply. The transition to clean energy would also slow down and the opportunities built on clean energy would disappear. Our strong message is that in times tinged with crises, Finland cannot afford to compromise on security of supply," says Caruna's CFO Noora Neilimo-Kontio.
InnoEnergy and Schneider Electric sign partnership for talent development in the energy sector
The partnership is designed for comprehensive involvement, including Schneider Electric’s exclusive participation in the Master’s in Smart Electrical Networks & Systems and Master’s in Energy for Smart Cities programmes. This collaboration allows Schneider Electric to guide students through real-world case studies.
As an official partner, Schneider Electric will also gain exclusive access to a pool of skilled graduates from prestigious universities linked with InnoEnergy’s programmes. This strategic gateway allows Schneider Electric to recruit top-tier talent, finely trained to meet the dynamic needs of the industry.
Eltel has a two-year extension contract for Kajave's services
Kajave and Eltel have signed an extension of the current service contract regarding the option years. The service contract covers the years 2024–2025 and includes troubleshooting and maintenance work, installation of electricity meters and connection work for new connections in the western part of the Kajave network area.
"The close cooperation between Eltel and Kajave has continued since 2002. The extension of the agreement provides a good basis for continuous development in the maintenance of distribution networks in Kainuu. In our area in Kainuu, we have almost 30 electricity professionals working on Kajave's distribution network services, and I am proud of our team in Kajaani, Hyrynsalmi, Puolanga and Vaala", says Juha Putaala, regional manager, Eltel.
MARKET NEWS
Survey finds energy data usage is growing in Europe but sector not truly data-centric
The survey, ‘The State of European Energy Data Maturity’, finds organisational maturity is growing but challenges centre on culture, data quality and technology.
The study, which was conducted by data specialist Opendatasoft in conjunction with sector associations E.DSO and GEODE, finds that education is no longer necessary at a senior level as organisations understand how data can solve their pressing strategic and operational challenges.
Netherlands: REPowerEU - EIB lends €500 million to Enexis to upgrade and expand the capacity of its electricity network
The EIB has signed a €500 million lending agreement enabling Enexis to expand and increase the capacity of its electricity network.
The investments, aligned with the objectives of the REPowerEU initiative, will take place in the Dutch provinces of Groningen, Drenthe, Overijssel, Noord-Brabant and Limburg.
Montenegro on track to add 4 GW of solar and wind, seeks EU support for green steel roll-out
Montenegro’s strategic goals in the energy transition, decarbonization and digitalization include building renewable energy capacities, introducing smart electricity meters, upgrading the transmission and distribution network, but also launching green steel production with the support of the European Union (EU).
These goals were presented to European Commission officials in Brussels during a recent visit of Montenegro’s delegation. Minister of Energy and Mining Saša Mujović said following the meeting that the Montenegrin government and the newly formed ministry face many challenges, but also development opportunities.
Smart metering and demand response continue to increase in US
FERC’s annual smart metering and demand response assessment highlights annual increases averaging around 8 million new smart meters.
The assessment, compiled as a statutory requirement annually, quotes 2021 smart meter data as the latest, with numbers of 111.2 and 115.3 million smart meters from the EIA and Institute for Electric Innovation respectively.
EU funds German-Czech smart grid project
The sister companies belonging to the Eon Group, the German Bayernwerk and the Czech EG.D, want to jointly digitalise their distribution grids. They will receive 100 million euros from the EU over the next five years for their PCI project 'Gabreta Smart Grids'. In total, the two companies expect to invest twice this amount.
"The digitalisation of our distribution grids using modern smart communication technologies and IT solutions will enable us to better monitor, control and plan our grids," said Bayernwerk CEO Egon Leo Westphal. This is because the energy transition is taking place in the distribution grids. This is where renewable energy sources such as PV systems, but also heat pumps and electric cars are connected. There is currently a veritable boom in connections.
Action plan for Europe’s grids launched
The widely awaited EU Action Plan for Grids is aimed at enabling the region’s grids to operate more efficiently and be rolled out further and faster.
With the focus shifting to the grids as their development is not keeping pace with that of renewable generation – and in some locations forming a bottleneck to new renewable connections – the EU’s plan sets out seven key action areas and 14 tailored actions to advance their development.
UPCOMING EVENTS
India Energy Week 2024, GOA, India, 06-09 February 2024
GridTECH Connect Forum, Orlando, USA, 26 February 2024
DISTRIBUTECH International, Orlando, USA, 26-29 February 2024
Smart Energy Indonesia 2024, Jakarta, Indonesia, 6-8 March 2024
Power Europe 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 13-15 March 2024
SGTech Week 2024, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 18-22 March 2024
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-21 March 2024
Oman Sustainability Week, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 28 April - 2 May 2024
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 8-10 May 2024
Enlit Africa 2024, Cape Town, South Africa, 28-30 May 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
Global Energy Transition Congress & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 1-3 July 2024
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
Nov2023
MEMBER NEWS
Grupa Apator published good results for Q3 2023.
After three quarters of 2023, Grupa Apator significantly increases sales and improves profitability in the two largest segments of its operations - Electricity and Water and Heat. The Group is expanding its existing portfolio of measurement solutions, switching and control equipment, as well as systems supporting the operation of energy services. At the same time, it is active in the field of research and development, reaching customers with new technological solutions necessary for automation, network balancing and adaptation of dynamically growing renewable energy sources in the power system.
Domestic sales accounted for approximately 54% of the Group's turnover, and the main export direction remained the European Union countries (with the dominant share of the German, Czech, Romanian, Belgian, Spanish and Dutch markets) and Great Britain. Consolidated EBITDA amounted to PLN 90.4 million, and the net result adjusted for the write-off on tax assets (made in Q2 2023) amounted to PLN 28.2 million.
NES and Energy Transition: Leveraging smart meteirng investments beyond billing applications
A key component of the energy transition is to build on the foundation that some smart metering systems can provide. We are starting to see a trend toward leveraging smart metering investments beyond core billing applications where Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Systems can also be utilized.
For two decades, the industry has been promoting the smart energy. However, most utilities, due to regulation, policy, and other business issues, have not appropriately acted and prepared for this. They are not ready for this transition, and unfortunately, this situation does not have a quick fix. Consumers, communities, and businesses in many countries have invested in distributed generation and renewables, such as solar or wind generation, but many distribution networks simply do not have the capacity and/or intelligence to manage integration with distributed generation. As a result, knowledge is key in driving the smart energy transition.
Replacement of smart meters in Wrocław
In Wrocław, over 360,000 TAURON customers have smart meters with remote reading installed. The first such devices were installed at customers' premises in 2014. Their 8-year legalization period is now expiring and therefore TAURON is now replacing entire batches of meters with new ones.
The process of replacing meters with remote reading meters (RRM) is one of the elements of fulfilling the company's obligation under the Energy Law. In total, over one million TAURON customers throughout the company's operating area already have RRM meters installed.
Yes, AI will improve energy efficiency – “Essentially all buildings can benefit from this technology“
AI has enormous potential to reduce energy consumption across society. Already, AI technology has reduced energy consumption in buildings by 20 percent and halved electricity usage for mobile networks. A decisive advantage is AI's ability to adapt and optimise energy use exactly where it is needed at any given moment.
How do you heat your home? Perhaps it's a bit warmer in the kitchen at night than it needs to be, and perhaps the heat rises quickly to unbearably hot levels on sunny days in rooms with large windows? Indeed, this is the case in many buildings, and collectively, vast amounts of energy are wasted.
Caruna's data: the electricity consumption of the people of Espoo has increased by almost 50 percent in a year, and the pace is accelerating
Energy revolution happens all the time in Finland: somewhere a solar power plant is connected to the electricity grid, somewhere else someone changes a petrol car to an electric one or an old boiler's heat pump. At the same time, electricity consumption increases. Espoo is the first city where the electricity grid becomes a bottleneck for a clean transition if the necessary investments in the electricity grid cannot be started soon.
In October 2023, 59% more electricity was consumed in Espoo than at the same time a year ago. Even when corrected for temperature, electricity consumption increased by 48 percent, so the colder autumn does not explain the increase. The growth is driven by an energy revolution, such as the electrification of district heating and transport.
Duke Energy Collaborates with Utilities to Raise Awareness about Utility Scams
Duke Energy, a leading energy company, has joined hands with utilities throughout North America to bring attention to Utility Scam Awareness Day. This annual event, established by Utilities United Against Scams (UUAS), an organization comprising over 150 electric, water, and natural gas companies and their trade associations, aims to educate the public about the prevalence of scams targeting utility customers.
The significance of this initiative has been highlighted by the recent surge in scam attempts. In Indiana alone, Duke Energy has received over 400 reports of scam attempts in 2023. To combat this issue, the company has launched the Scam Reporting Tool earlier this year. This tool enables customers to share their encounters with attempted scams, allowing Duke Energy to gather valuable information and protect others from falling victim to similar fraudulent activities.
MARKET NEWS
Greece: €150 million EIB backing to HEDNO to upgrade electricity distribution via roll out of smart meters
The European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement to support a significant new investment in Greece to roll out the installation and use of electricity smart meters, which are essential for boosting the efficiency of electricity distribution and the future expansion of renewable energy.
EIB President Werner Hoyer and Chairman and CEO of the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO), Mr Anastasios Manos, signed the €150 million 15-year loan, which will help modernise and reinforce the Greek electricity distribution network.
DSO requirements for EU grid action plan
The DSO associations CEDEC, E.DSO and GEODE have set out a list of recommendations for the forthcoming EU grid action plan.
With the need for upgrading, reinforcement and expansion of the grids to deliver an increasingly clean energy powered energy system, the grid action plan, which was announced in the latest State of the Energy Union report, is set to be a key foundation and reflects the growing focus on the grids at the regional but also the global level.
Power Barometer 2023
War back on the European continent. Geopolitical tensions and global industrial competition on the rise. All the while facing the hottest year on record. The urgency for decarbonisation is growing but electrification is stagnating. Some encouraging progress has been made in the power sector, yet the climate clock is ticking faster and the need to ensure Europe’s security of supply has never been stronger. We must speed and scale decarbonisation, but the right conditions must be put in place.
In 2022, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its subsequent energy blackmail levied against Europe yielded a massive disruption to the European power sector. The price of electricity skyrocketed on the back of gas supply shutoffs. Energy security soared to the top of the political agenda. Governments took matters into their own hands to keep people’s lights and heat on throughout the winter.
Energy suppliers pay a total of £10.8 million for not meeting smart meter installation targets for 2022
Energy suppliers British Gas, OVO, Bulb, E.ON, Scottish Power and SSE will pay out a total of £10.8 million after missing smart meter installation targets for 2022.
The firms fell short of the installation targets set for 2022, culminating in a shortfall to install a total of 1,026,628 smart meters by the required deadline.
RG&E continues installing smart meters in one of its biggest projects in decades
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Technicians with Rochester Gas & Electric are hard at work installing approximately 80,000 smart meters across the area, so far.
RG&E anticipates every customer in its service areas will receive the new electric standard smart meter or natural gas module within the next two years.
Why AI and energy are the new power couple
Power systems are becoming vastly more complex as demand for electricity grows and decarbonisation efforts ramp up. In the past, grids directed energy from centralised power stations. Now, power systems increasingly need to support multi-directional flows of electricity between distributed generators, the grid and users. The rising number of grid-connected devices, from electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to residential solar installations, makes flows less predictable. Meanwhile, links are deepening between the power system and the transportation, industry, building and industrial sectors. The result is a vastly greater need for information exchange – and more powerful tools to plan and operate power systems as they keep evolving.
This need arrives just as the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) applications are rapidly progressing. As machine learning models have become more advanced, the computational power required to develop them has doubled every five to six months since 2010. AI models can now reliably provide language or image recognition, transform audio sounds into analysable data, power chatbots and automate simple tasks. AI mimics aspects of human intelligence by analysing data and inputs – generating outputs more quickly and at greater volume than a human operator could. Some AI algorithms are even able to self-programme and modify their own code.
Sandworm unveiled as October 2022 Ukraine infrastructure hackers
According to Google-owned US cybersecurity firm Mandiant, Russia-linked hacking group Sandworm were behind hacks on Ukraine energy infrastructure during the October 2022 blackouts.
According to Mandiant’s researchers, the attack represents “the latest evolution in Russia’s cyber physical attack capability,” which they state has been made increasingly visible since the start of the war in Ukraine.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Mission Net Zero India Summit 2023, New Delhi, India, 7-8 December 2023
DISTRIBUTECH International, Orlando, USA, 26-29 February 2024
Smart Energy Indonesia 2024, Jakarta, Indonesia, 6-8 March 2024
Power Europe 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 13-15 March 2024
SGTech Week 2024, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 18-22 March 2024
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-21 March 2024
Oman Sustainability Week, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 28 April - 2 May 2024
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 8-10 May 2024
Enlit Africa 2024, Cape Town, South Africa, 28-30 May 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
Global Energy Transition Congress & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 1-3 July 2024
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Solar+Storage NX 2024, Istanbul, Turkey, 07-09 November 2024
Oct2023
MEMBER NEWS
Technology Trending: The metering edition – 100 million smart meters, smart meter data in Japan and Kaifa going OSGP
100 million smart meters and counting by Gridspertise, a new era for smart meter data in Japan and Kaifa going OSGP and Sigfox are on the week’s technology radar.
Kaifa, the electronics and metering solution provider, is expanding its offerings on two fronts with the choice of the OSGP architecture for its intelligent smart metering and the Sigfox 0G technology for advanced water metering solutions.
E.ON needs to increase investment to prepare for renewables, grid boss says
FRANKFURT, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Germany's E.ON (EONGn.DE) will have to expand its five-year investment plans for grid improvements to accommodate the roll-out and integration of renewable power, its board member in charge of networks, Thomas Koenig, said on Thursday.
Power grids have to become more efficient to facilitate the change from central fossil fuels-based generation to millions of decentralised low-carbon production units tapping into wind and sunshine, he said at a company event that was broadcast online.
Apator: Lack of standardization of smart meters is a threat to cybersecurity
The expert opinion prepared by Apator and ComCERT from the Asseco Group shows that the lack of a standard for electricity meters creates the risk of a cyber attack. More than half of the 4 million devices used in Poland are manufactured outside the European Union.
According to the president of Apator, Maciej Wyczesany, smart meters, apart from many advantages that facilitate the collection and reporting of data on electricity consumption, may have functions that will potentially lead to cutting off electricity, and in the event of a mass attack, they may potentially lead to the destabilization of the entire energy network.
Electricity grid under further pressure: government and grid operators are taking drastic measures
The increasingly rapid pace at which additional transmission capacity is required exceeds the speed at which grid operators can expand the electricity grid. Although work on the network is underway in all regions, the billions of investments and additional measures are unfortunately not sufficient. The grid operators signal that the Netherlands is entering a next phase, in which access to the electricity grid will come under further pressure. Without these drastic measures, housing construction, economic growth and sustainability in the Netherlands will slow down.
In more and more places, a new connection or reinforcement for a company or home is no longer self-evident. This requires a serious acceleration of the expansion of the electricity grid. In addition, grid operators and the government take additional measures to keep the electricity grid accessible and reliable. Examples of this include requiring smart charging stations, controllable heat pumps, and mandatory relief of the power grid at peak times. The changing energy system also requires different behavior, by mainly using the grid when the energy supply is large
There will be no transformation without a smart grid
The Tauron Group, as the largest distributor of electricity in Poland, puts emphasis on the development of networks to which renewable sources can be connected in a stable manner. Moreover, in just a few years, all customers will be able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by smart metering. The energy leader has a state-of-the-art distribution network located in a highly urbanized area of southern Poland, and the quality indicators of the supplied energy remain at the highest level in Poland. This includes: Due to the modern distribution network, large industrial investments by Intel and LG Chem have been located in southern Poland in recent years.
Currently, Tauron owns over 40%. wired medium voltage networks and this is the highest percentage level of cabling among large DSOs. Running power lines underground reduces the impact of weather conditions on network operation and improves the security of energy supplies to customers. By 2040, the Group wants to achieve 75 percent. medium voltage wired lines.
Electric vehicles and charging - time to cut the cord?
Induction is nothing new - this electromagnetic means of moving electric current without a wire or cable was discovered almost 200 years ago. And it is often used for mobile phones and electric toothbrushes. But where electric vehicles are concerned, so far, there hasn’t quite been a way around the bulky cord.
Wireless charging has long been a hot topic for both cars and heavy vehicles, but the technology was long facing a number of roadblocks. However, there are many indications signalling that perhaps the time has come to cut the cord. First and foremost are the huge leaps in the technology itself.
MARKET NEWS
Serbia’s DSO Elektrodistribucija Srbije selects suppliers for 470,000 smart meters
Serbia’s distribution system operator Elektrodistribucija Srbije will purchase smart meters from the consortium of Energotehnika – Južna Bačka and EWG.
In late April, Elektrodistribucija Srbije (EDS) launched a tender procedure for the procurement and installation of 470,000 smart electricity meters. The company valued the investment at RSD 13 billion (EUR 110.8 million), excluding value-added tax.
Overcoming accuracy anxiety: Smarter data to build EV response programmes
Electricity companies are taking varied approaches to charging and demand response programmes when it comes to supporting today’s electric vehicle (EV) revolution.
Some are focused on building charging infrastructure. Some are developing managed charging programmes. Others are focused on optimising existing grid structures by way of behavioural load shifting.
Lack of ambition and attention risks making electricity grids the weak link in clean energy transitions
First-of-its-kind global study finds the world must add or replace 80 million km of grids by 2040, equal to all grids globally today, to meet national climate targets and support energy security
Efforts to tackle climate change and ensure reliable supplies of electricity could be put at risk unless policy makers and companies quickly take action to improve and expand the world’s electricity grids, according to a special report released today by the IEA.
E.DSO Publishes Its Technology Radar
European Distribution System Operators (E.DSO) promotes and enables customer empowerment and the increase in the use of clean energy sources through electrification, the development of smart and digital grid technologies in real-life situations, new market designs and regulation. E.DSO and its members are committed to taking on the huge challenges associated with realising the Energy Union, built on the EU’s ambitious energy, climate, security of supply, jobs and growth objectives. This involves ensuring the reliability and security of Europe’s electricity supply to consumers while enabling them to take a more active part in our energy system.
The current technological landscape is very uncertain, marked by numerous and rapid developments
525,000 smart meter rollout planned for Rhode Island
Rhode Island Energy has got the go ahead for an almost 525,000 smart electricity meter rollout in the New England state.
Rhode Island Energy, a subsidiary of PPL and the largest energy company in the state, plans to implement the ‘advanced metering functionality’ as it styles it over the next three years, following the approval from the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission.
AI and blockchain make smart grids more useful to renewables
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain will drive smart grids closer to providing and monitoring renewable energy solutions, according to a new report from GlobalData, Energy Monitor‘s parent company.
The Thematic Research: Smart Grid in Power report identifies technological trends and assesses benefits and threats to smart grids. GlobalData forecasts that, as automation, blockchain and AI are incorporated into smart grids, this will push the energy industry to be more reliable, efficient and sustainable as generation and demands for renewable energy will be able to be better monitored in real time. The report also highlights cybersecurity threats to energy supplies and the concerning political implications of such events.
PRESS RELEASE
Renewable Energy Takes Center Stage at the Africa Energy Indaba
Cape Town, 23 October 2024 — Africa Energy Indaba, the continent's leading energy decision-maker event, is proud to announce that renewable energy will be a major focus at its upcoming event. In response to the growing demand for sustainable solutions, Africa Energy Indaba is committed to advancing the renewable energy sector in Africa and fostering a greener, more prosperous future for the continent.
Africa faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities when it comes to meeting its energy needs. The adoption of renewable energy sources is pivotal.
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR DSOS FORUM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 02-03 November 2023
Smart City Expo World Congress 2023, Barcelona, Spain & online, 07-09 November 2023
Future of Utilities: Smart Energy 2023, London, United Kingdom, 8-9 November 2023
Enlit Asia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-16 November 2023
Mission Net Zero India Summit 2023, New Delhi, India, 7-8 December 2023
Smart Energy Indonesia 2024, Jakarta, Indonesia, 6-8 March 2024
Power Europe 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 13-15 March 2024
SGTech Week 2024, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 18-22 March 2024
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-21 March 2024
Oman Sustainability Week, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 28 April - 2 May 2024
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 8-10 May 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
Global Energy Transition Congress & Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 1-3 July 2024
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Sep2023
MEMBER NEWS
Swedish Vattenfall accelerates power grid investments in coming years
Swedish utility Vattenfall is increasing investments in its power grid to 8-10 billion crowns ($722-902 million) annually through 2030 from 5 billion in 2022 to keep up with electrification, it said on Friday.
The state-owned group said the investments were necessary to be able to connect new production facilities, electrified industries and existing customers who switch to fossil-free and electrify their processes.
Better cooperation of micro-installations with the network. New activities of TAURON Dystrybucja
The reversal of energy flow, especially on sunny days due to the lack of self-consumption on the part of the producer, results in voltage problems that result in a significant increase in customer complaints. Customers report that their inverter often trips on sunny days. Therefore, in recent years, TAURON Dystrybucja has been carrying out investment and operational activities to improve the cooperation of micro-installations with the power grid.
The company constantly monitors the quality parameters of electricity and the load on individual network elements, and also undertakes investment and operational activities. Currently, the company also initiates formal and control activities regarding incorrect connections. Their goal is to ensure that micro-installations with excessive parameters or generating energy contrary to the contract do not cause inverters to be turned off by other prosumers.
E.ON successfully issues €1.5 billion of green bonds to prefund for 2024
Today, E.ON successfully issued two bond tranches with a combined volume of €1.5 billion backed by a combined peak orderbook of €4.3 billion
E.ON CFO Marc Spieker said, “The high demand from investors underlines again that we are on the right track with our strategy, which is focused on sustainability, digitalization and growth. E.ON is determined to drive forward the energy transition in Europe. We want to invest a total of €33 billion in the energy transition by 2027. Green bonds are an important financing instrument to do this, and we will continue to use them for our financing in the future.”
Field test of charging infrastructure shows solutions for smart energy supply
The Thüga public utility association and the Braunschweig energy service provider BS Energy have completed a 2.5-year field test in which the direct effects of the charging behavior of electric vehicles on the power grid were examined.
Am 13. September überreichten Oberbürgermeister Dr. Thorsten Kornblum, Dr. Volker Lang, Vorstandsmitglied BS Energy, und Dr. Christoph Ullmer, Leiter Innovationsplattform bei der Thüga, den Teilnehmern Brigitte und Gerhard Köhler als Stellvertreter für alle privaten Testhaushalte die Ergebnisse des Praxistests. Gesammelt wurden diese in zwei Testgebieten, in denen E-Mobilisten einer Steuerung ihrer Ladevorgänge zugestimmt hatten: in Dibbesdorf, einem gewachsenen Braunschweiger Stadtteil mit mehr als 1.000 Jahren Geschichte und altem Gebäudebestand sowie in einem Neubaugebiet in Waggum, in dem viele Wärmepumpen das Netz zusätzlich beanspruchen und PV-Anlagen Strom einspeisen.
LINZ STROM Sales awarded as top electricity provider
For the fifth time in a row, LINZ STROM Sales was able to secure a top ranking among Austria's electricity providers. In a representative survey by the Linz Market Institute, LINZ AG's electricity sales team emerged as the test winner in the "Recommendation" category and received the Market Quality Award 2023.
“Recommendation to friends and acquaintances is perhaps the best award a sales organization can receive. We are pleased that our efforts to be a reliable partner even in times of crisis are appreciated,” says Ing. Jürgen Leonfellner, Head of Sales for Private Customers.
Caruna Group 1 January – 30 June 2023: Caruna continued to invest in Finnish energy transition despite inflation and increasing costs in operating environment
Caruna is committed to investing and developing its electricity network to improve security of supply and enhance Finnish energy transition. However, due to cost increase in network construction and interest rates, Caruna had to monitor its investments more closely, which resulted in postponing some unprofitable investment projects.
Caruna Group's investments in January–June totalled EUR 63.5 (58.5) million, of which investments in the high-voltage distribution network accounted for 15 per cent.
MARKET NEWS
Distribution grid digitalization, smart meters crucial to scale-up prosumers in Serbia, region
The rapid increase in the number of solar power plants for self-consumption in Serbia and the region has delivered many benefits, but it has also triggered regulators’ response. Fearing their intermittent production could endanger the power system, regulators have limited their connection capacity, but such policies also limit the vast benefits offered by solar energy. Fortunately, there is a solution already implemented in Europe, which allows households and firms to harness cheap green electricity based on smart meters and flexibility services.
There are a variety of measures to enable prosumers to make their electricity consumption more flexible through the digitalization of distribution grids. Their main result is a reduced need to balance prosumers and a lower risk of jeopardizing power systems.
Smart metering progresses in Europe but 11 countries have barely started
Thirteen of the 27 EU countries have now reported completing their smart metering rollouts with penetration greater than 80% but eleven are lagging far behind.
Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Spain, Norway, Luxembourg, Latvia, Italy, France, Malta, Slovenia and the Netherlands have reached the 80% penetration rate.
NTT Data: how half-hourly settlement will transform the renewable energy industry
Oliver Bridges, head of energy data at NTT DATA UK&I, has worked for British Gas, CGI, Smart DCC, and now NTT Data, giving him a broad overview of the use of data in the energy sector.
These roles have seen him work with data as part of the rollout of smart meters which are vital for informing energy companies how much energy is being used, and provides the basis for all kinds of new energy innovations. He talked to Current± about why the upcoming energy market reforms, in particular half hourly settlement, are a game changer for the industry.
Stronger international cooperation in high emissions sectors crucial to get on track for 1.5°C climate goal
Countries must supercharge international collaboration on technologies and markets for sectors such as power, transport, industry, buildings and agriculture, new report finds
Insufficient progress in transitions to clean technologies and sustainable solutions over the past year highlights the need for strong and targeted international collaboration in high emissions sectors to deliver transitions that are faster, easier and cheaper for all, according to the latest Breakthrough Agenda Report.
Urgent call for more electricity distribution grid capacity to enable Europe's energy transition
Europe’s energy transition heavily relies on ageing electricity grids. Today, the capacity of our copper cables to integrate mass electrification and meet higher decarbonisation targets is limited. It is high time legislators embrace an anticipatory approach to future-proof electricity networks. Eurelectric’s new grid report shows how the current electricity market design reform can put this approach into action by incentivising anticipatory investments, longer-term grid planning, digitalisation, flexibility and more advanced data exchange.
By 2030, Europe will see around 50 to 60 million heat pumps, 65 to 70 million electric vehicles (EVs) and over 600 gigawatts of additional renewable capacity as foreseen by REPowerEU. Around 70% of that capacity will be directly connected to distribution grids – those electric lines that travel across cities and villages and connect increasing windmills and solar installations. While becoming ever more critical to the continent’s decarbonisation, Europe’s distribution grids face scarce capacity, cumbersome permitting, and insufficient investments.
Europe Energy Research & Innovation Agenda 2025-28
Europe’s energy research and innovation agenda for the period 2025-2028 has been published with an estimated budget of almost €1 billion (US$1.1 billion) by ETIP SNET.
The implementation plan outlined comprises a total of 19 ‘priority project concepts’ (PPCs) slated for delivery beginning in 2024. Additionally, there are 13 more PPCs scheduled for initiation in the subsequent year. These PPCs are grouped under the existing ‘high-level use cases’ and are conceptualized as “families of projects.” They are not meant to be individually defined projects; this responsibility falls upon project funding applicants. The primary goal of this implementation plan is to outline the most pressing research and innovation (R&I) needs that must be addressed through collaborative efforts between the European Commission and national work programs. These endeavors aim to facilitate the realization of a carbon-neutral energy system by 2050.
PRESS RELEASE
OSGP Alliance Welcomes KAIFA as a New Member
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 12 September 2023: Founded in 1985, Kaifa Group is a cutting-edge solution provider in the areas of IoT, AI, smart plant, IC packing and testing, PC and consumer electronics manufacturing. In 1995, as a result of the European smart metering business growth, KAIFA engaged into the business as a member of the Kaifa Group. Now, as a leading end-to-end AMI solution provider and utility business digitalization enabler, KAIFA has delivered more than 50 million smart meters to Europe, totaling over 84 million smart meters to 80 utilities in 40 countries worldwide.
In order to further expand its activities, KAIFA has chosen the OSGP architecture for its intelligent smart metering. KAIFA believes that interoperability standards are needed to guarantee innovation in terms of adopting new technologies and open standards as they become available. In addition, protocols must be secure in order to ensure flawless confidentiality of data from the energy users. The digital era brings new opportunities, and KAIFA is ready to take advantage of this with a key focus on the sustainable innovation in energy management.
UPCOMING EVENTS
ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2-5 October 2023
World Class Corporate Climate-Neutral Strategies & Resource Management 2023, Frankfurt, Germany, 10-11 October 2023
SGF-IEC Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 16-20 October 2023
XV International Trade Fair ECOENERGY EXPO 2023, Kyiv, Ukraine, 17-19 October 2023
THE GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR DSOS FORUM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 02-03 November 2023
Smart City Expo World Congress 2023, Barcelona, Spain & online, 07-09 November 2023
Future of Utilities: Smart Energy 2023, London, United Kingdom, 8-9 November 2023
Enlit Asia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-16 November 2023
Mission Net Zero India Summit 2023, New Delhi, India, 7-8 December 2023
Smart Energy Indonesia 2024, Jakarta, Indonesia, 6-8 March 2024
Power Europe 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 13-15 March 2024
SGTech Week 2024, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, 18-22 March 2024
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2024, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-21 March 2024
Oman Sustainability Week, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 28 April - 2 May 2024
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week 2024, New Delhi, India, 8-10 May 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2024
Aug2023
MEMBER NEWS
Alliander invests €641 million over first half 2023
In the first half of 2023, network company Alliander again invested a lot more in expanding the gas and electricity grids. Alliander invested over €60 million more in the power grid over the first six months of 2023 compared to the same period last year. Despite the substantial investments and the work being done, it is impossible to keep pace with the energy transition. Making flexible use of the electricity grid can, to some extent, relieve pressure on the grid.
The energy transition is in full swing. As early as in 2030 around 85% of electricity consumed will come from renewable sources like wind and solar. At the same time, business owners are rapidly making their businesses more sustainable. They are adapting their production processes, which often generates additional demand for electricity. This increasing demand for green electricity and the large supply of this sustainably generated power is placing increasing pressure on the grid and, consequently, more and more places on the grid are facing capacity scarcity.
Apator confirms DSOs have accelerated investments in new smart meters
According to the amendment to the Energy Law of 2021, 100% of end consumers of electricity in Poland must be equipped with remote reading meters. So far, the pace has been sluggish, but distribution grid operators (DSOs) have clearly accelerated, which is confirmed, among others, by Apator, a domestic manufacturer of such devices.
According to the regulations, by the end of 2023, distribution network operators will have to replace (cumulatively) at least 15% of all meters, two years later - 35%, while in 2027 it is to be 65%, and in 2028. meters are to be replaced in approx. 80% of recipients. The whole procedure is to be completed two years later.
Smart charging helps power grid
The grid does not seem to be able to cope with the amount of sustainable energy and the enormous demand for electrification. Tim Hoogvliet, Product Owner Smart Charging at Vattenfall, explains how Vattenfall InCharge thinks along with municipalities and governments about solutions.
Vattenfall InCharge's more than 40,000 charging points are located in the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden. Grid operators in all three countries are faced with the same question: what can we do about the overcrowded power grid? More and more solar parks, wind farms, heat pumps and electric (delivery) cars are being added. And the electrification of trucks and ships is not standing still either.
Tauron: we want to reduce emissions by 80% by 2030
In the perspective of 2030, our plans look very ambitious. We want to reduce emissions by 80%. by a stepwise increase in renewable sources in our mix and the gradual decarbonisation of the heating sector - said Paweł Szczeszek, president of the Tauron Group, in the weekly "Gazeta Polska".
"In the longer term, we are interested in getting involved in the construction of small SMR nuclear power plants, in hydrogen technologies and, above all, in wind energy in the Baltic Sea" - he pointed out.
RMS partners with BBEnergy
In a bold move towards a sustainable future, Remote Metering Solutions (RMS), the largest private utility service provider in South Africa, and BBEnergy, a renowned provider of state-of-the-art analytical tools for extracting meaningful insights from complex data sets, are excited to announce an innovative technology partnership.
This collaboration aims to drive transformative solutions for better energy, water, carbon and waste management.
E.ON continues to invest in the energy transition and remains on growth path
E.ON continues its growth path. The increasingly calming energy market environment had a positive impact on the Group's first-half results. Both segments – Energy Networks and Customer Solutions – delivered a strong operating performance. Against this backdrop, E.ON raised its earnings forecast for full-year 2023. At the same time, accelerated cross-sectoral decarbonization efforts are providing a tailwind for further business growth.
At the presentation of the company’s results for the first half of 2023 E.ON CEO Leonhard Birnbaum said, “After a long period of crisis, we sense that the headwinds for our business are diminishing. We see our markets increasingly recover. At the same time, the energy transition is becoming more tangible with every passing day, and the demand for our sustainable energy solutions and our infrastructure is increasing. We are therefore in an environment that presents us with a lot of work, but also offers tremendous growth potential.”
MARKET NEWS
Albany moving to automated utility meter-reading
ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Meter-reading for utility workers is about to become a thing of the past in Albany. The city is moving to a new system called AMI that does it all through a computer program.
Staff with Albany Utilities tell WALB they’re doing their best to make meter information more readily available to their customers. And in doing so, customers will be able to control their costs more efficiently.
Ukraine is bracing for its darkest hour as parts of the grid are damaged beyond repair
The upcoming heating season in Ukraine is anticipated with growing concerns, as a significant part of the country’s damaged energy grid appears to be beyond repair. Renewable energy could help, but only to a certain extent.
Ukraine’s preparations for the next winter are proceeding apace. Energy grid operator Ukrenergo has executed nearly 60% of its planned grid repair works, adding around 1.7 GW of capacity, Denys Shmyhal, Ukrainian prime minister, said in a statement on his social media channels on July 21.
City Power starts expansive smart meter rollout in Joburg
Electricity utility City Power has initiated a wide-scale project to introduce smart meters across Johannesburg.
In a statement, the utility says the project − at no cost to residents − is a strategic move to enhance efficiency and confront the energy challenges in the city.
Serbia to invest EUR 320 million in electricity distribution network
Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia Dubravka Đedović said EUR 320 million would be invested to strengthen the power distribution grid. The country’s parliament is about to pass a law on guarantees for a EUR 50 million commercial loan for the purpose.
The stability of supply has been stabilized after interruptions in several areas in Serbia, caused by several violent storms, according to Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović. She said the government would invest EUR 320 million in strengthening the distribution network.
HPL partners with WBSEDCL for advanced metering project
HPL Electric & Power has entered into a partnership with West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company (WBSEDCL) to implement an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) initiative. The project, valued at Rs 416.84 crore, will be backed by funding from the World Bank.
The AMI project is set to deploy smart meters across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Its capabilities include real-time data transmission, consumption tracking, accurate billing, and the potential to connect approximately five lakh consumers in Kolkata. The collaboration with WBSEDCL will oversee the AMI project's execution.
PSE&G Hits Key Milestone by Installing 1 Million Smart Meters
PSE&G reached a key milestone by installing its millionth smart meter as part of its Smart Meter Program. Through this multi-year effort, PSE&G will replace 2.3 million existing electric meters with new smart meters at PSE&G residential and commercial customer premises. PSE&G expects to complete the installations by the end of 2024.
“We are very excited to realize this important accomplishment, because it means that we are getting closer to our goal of making smart meters available to all of our electric customers,” said Dave Johnson, vice president customer care and chief customer officer. “There are already more than 110 million smart meters installed across the United States, so it’s great news that PSE&G electric customers will soon also have access to the benefits that smart meters provide.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
Eletrotec+EM-Power South America, São Paulo, Brazil, 29-31 August 2023
Digital Utilities Europe 2023, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 13-14 September 2023
MOVE AMERICA, Austin, Texas, 26-27 September 2023
ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2-5 October 2023
Power Europe 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 9-10 October 2023
World Class Corporate Climate-Neutral Strategies & Resource Management 2023, Frankfurt, Germany, 10-11 October 2023
SGF-IEC Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 16-20 October 2023
XV International Trade Fair ECOENERGY EXPO 2023, Kyiv, Ukraine, 17-19 October 2023
THE GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR DSOS FORUM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 02-03 November 2023
Smart City Expo World Congress 2023, Barcelona, Spain & online, 07-09 November 2023
Enlit Asia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-16 November 2023
Oman Sustainability Week, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, 28 April - 2 May 2024
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
Jul2023
MEMBER NEWS
Harnessing historic funding to benefit customers and communities
In listening to the concerns and needs of the communities we serve, our customers have been clear: they support a transition to cleaner energy but want to protect reliability and affordability. That’s why Duke Energy is making every effort to harness federal funding available through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to reduce customer costs.
Both the IIJA and IRA represent historic opportunities to invest in clean, innovative and resilient energy infrastructure and we’re leveraging these laws to reduce costs for customers as we transition to cleaner energy sources. We’re focused on opportunities closely aligned with our strategy including transportation electrification and grid resiliency and reliability.
The first dynamic electricity connection was connected to the grid at Suomenoja in Espoo
Finland's first dynamic electricity connection will start operating in Espoo's Suomenoja in the summer of 2023. The connection will bring electricity to Fortum's new Suomenoja heating plant, which produces carbon-neutral district heating for the people of Espoo.
Espoo is at the forefront of the energy revolution in many areas: the number of both solar panels and electric cars is the top in Finland, and the electrification of heating is well underway. The latest electrification milestone was reached at Suomenoja in Espoo, where field testing of the dynamic electric connection began at the beginning of June. The actual production cycle can begin after field testing.
Green alliance: Let the municipalities keep taxes from new green projects
Wind and solar energy on land is the fastest way to expand our renewable energy, which will ensure our energy independence and speed up the green transition. The municipalities that develop renewable energy must be allowed to keep a larger part of the tax revenue, believes the new, green alliance.
A new alliance for renewable energy consisting of Dansk Erhverv, Vestas, Green Power Denmark, Eurowind Energy, Landbrug & Fødevarer, Norlys, European Energy, NRGi and Andel is now calling for action to get more gigawatts of solar and wind energy installed on land.
Vattenfall Energy Savings Barometer: Energy saving continues to be a high priority among European consumers
To save money is what drives Europeans to reduce energy consumption. Right now, in the middle of the summer, electricity prices are lower compared to some months ago, but this does not stop Europeans. For more than eight out of ten people, reducing their own energy consumption in their daily lives continues to stay relevant. These are results from Vattenfall’s Energy Saving Barometer that is conducted for the second time.
On behalf of Vattenfall, research institute Statista surveyed a total of 5,000 representatively selected consumers in Germany, Finland, France, Sweden and the Netherlands between 15 and 25 May.
Revolutionary change in Poland's strategic infrastructure
The roll-out of energy meters in our country is an operation on a huge - logistical and financial - scale. This is the last moment to define the digital security requirements for devices installed in Poles' homes.
By 2028, 80% of consumers in Poland are to have smart energy meters installed. Today, this means the replacement of about 16 million meters for individual or business customers. The operation seems to be accelerating in recent months: probably about 3.8 million meters have already been installed. Due to the fact that each distribution system operator must carry out this operation on its own, the level and pace of large-scale meter replacement in Polish homes varies depending on local conditions. Verification practices of meters offered in tenders and their suppliers are also different.
METAS certification data security for FIRMWARE UPDATE
The OSGP PLC solution from NES (Networked Energy Services (NES) Corporation), established by VIVAVIS Schweiz AG in the Swiss market, was the FIRST company resp. Solution in Switzerland the official certificate of METAS (Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology) for a new FIRMWARE, the current version 4.8 of their already certified smart meters MTR3000 and MTR3500.
The certificate was issued by METAS for the NES MTR3000 and MTR3500 smart meters. This is a great success, as VIVAVIS Schweiz AG is the first company in Switzerland to have a FIRMWARE UPDATE certified by METAS.
MARKET NEWS
WHY EV CHARGING, INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS KEY TO SUCCESS FOR GREEN MOBILITY IN INDIA
Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming how we commute. All of this is because of their lower operational costs, reduced maintenance requirements, and positive environmental impact compared to their internal combustion engine counterparts.
Most of all, EVs represent progress extending beyond the automotive industry, including renewable energy integration with smart grid systems and energy storage solutions.
Washington maps clean energy cybersecurity plan
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced an implementation plan to realise the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which aims to protect investments in rebuilding US infrastructure and develop the clean energy sector.
The newly announced National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (NCSIP) – announced via a Washington-issued fact sheet – details over 65 Federal initiatives, from combatting cybercrimes to building a skilled cyber workforce.
Enhancing Efficiency: New and emerging technologies transforming the distribution segment
The power distribution segment in India is undergoing significant transformation, driven by advancements in technology and constant search for efficient and sustainable energy management solutions. Several new and emerging technologies are being adopted to improve the distribution infrastructure, enhance grid reliability, enable renewable energy integration and empower consumers with smart solutions. These include advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), distribution automation solutions, internet of things (IoT), analytics and artificial intelligence (AI).
These solutions aid in boosting the efficiency and productivity of the power sector in a big way. Earlier, the majority of operations and distribution processes in the power sector were manual, which led to poor control, lack of transparency and unreliable information, resulting in enormous power loss.
Belgian electrification is reaching a tipping point – Elia
According to a new study from Belgian TSO Elia, although policy measures in Belgium have been speeding up the country’s energy transition, electrification has been happening faster than expected and flexibility will need to be more readily tapped to balance supply and demand.
Elia’s 2024 – 2034 Adequacy and Flexibility Study for Belgium outlines how the expected spread of electrification across society is happening both earlier and at a faster speed than anticipated, namely in the mobility, heating and industrial sectors.
Estonia’s Energy Market: Lessons Learned and Best Practices for Other Countries
Estonia, a small Baltic nation, has made remarkable strides in transforming its energy market. Its journey, marked by innovation, sustainability, and resilience, offers valuable lessons and best practices for other countries seeking to revolutionize their energy sectors.
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Estonia found itself heavily reliant on oil shale, an energy-intensive and environmentally damaging resource. Recognizing the need for change, the country embarked on a path of energy reform. The first step was the liberalization of the energy market, which was accomplished by implementing the European Union’s Third Energy Package. This move allowed for increased competition, driving down prices and improving service quality.
Electricity storage a key target for Cyprus
Cyprus’ Ministe of Energy, Commerce and Industry George Papanastasiou has set the goal of having a solution to the issue of energy storage within the next 18-24 months, so that green energy is not rejected.
Addressing a press conference of the Green Energy Group in Nicosia, the minister noted that the energy system in Cyprus is undergoing a complete restructuring, with a focus on efforts to operate a competitive electricity market.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2023 World Battery Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2023
Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo 2023 (Formerly: PV Guangzhou 2023), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2023
Sustainable Energy Technology Asia (SETA 2023) & Solar+Storage Asia (SSA 2023) – Executive Asian Energy Leadership Forum, Bangkok, Thailand, 17-18 August 2023
Digital Utilities Europe 2023, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 13-14 September 2023
MOVE AMERICA, Austin, Texas, 26-27 September 2023
ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2-5 October 2023
Power Europe 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 9-10 October 2023
World Class Corporate Climate-Neutral Strategies & Resource Management 2023, Frankfurt, Germany, 10-11 October 2023
SGF-IEC Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 16-20 October 2023
XV International Trade Fair ECOENERGY EXPO 2023, Kyiv, Ukraine, 17-19 October 2023
THE GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR DSOS FORUM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 02-03 November 2023
Smart City Expo World Congress 2023, Barcelona, Spain & online, 07-09 November 2023
Enlit Asia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-16 November 2023
SMARTGREENS 2024, Angers, France, 02-04 May 2024
MOVE 2024, London, United Kingdom, 19-20 June
Jun2023
MEMBER NEWS
PLN 3 billion for network development. TAURON announces a large increase in investment expenditures
TAURON plans to increase capital expenditures on power grids to PLN 3 billion in 2024. This is a threefold increase compared to 2010. These funds will be used to connect new customers, including RES, and modernize and reconstruct power grids.
In the last eight years, TAUORON has invested PLN 16 billion in distribution networks. Completed projects, which consist of almost 60,000 investment tasks per year, allow for the development of grids at all voltage levels and throughout the entire area of the Group's operations.
Eltel to install additional 664,000 smart meters in Sweden for SEK 585 million, about EUR 51 million
Eltel's Smart Grids business in Sweden has signed a new contract with Vattenfall Eldistribution AB to install 664,000 new-generation smart electricity meters across the country. The contract is worth SEK 585 million, about EUR 51 million.
This contract is an extension of a previous agreement signed in February 2020, where Vattenfall Eldistribution AB decided to utilize the option to order remaining phases of smart electricity meter installations. As a result, throughout the project, Eltel will be installing a total of approximately 900,000 smart electricity meters and technology for about 40,000 secondary substations metering in Vattenfall's distribution network across Sweden.
Cutting the Gordian Infrastructure Knot: New principles to accelerate Europe’s energy transition
Inspired by Greek mythology, a new study proposes “cutting through” the complex knot of challenges currently hindering Europe’s progress towards a zero-carbon future.
A new study, published by E.ON Foresight, in collaboration with AFRY and Common Futures, proposes ways to slash through the complexities hindering Europe’s energy transition – inspired by the Greek myth of Alexander the Great.
A new type of energy community is being piloted in student housing in Joensuu
A new type of energy community is being piloted in Joensuu. The two student houses form a virtual energy community, where the energy produced by the solar panels of the other house can be used in both properties.
In Joensuu, the students will live in apartment buildings for the next couple of years, where a new type of energy community pilot is underway. On the roof of one house, energy is produced by 80 solar panels. The pilot will test whether the energy produced by the panels can be used in another student house in the area. The pilot will last until the end of 2025.
Improving Volt/VAR Control - NES Solution
Utilities today devote considerable attention to managing voltage levels and reactive power (VAR) throughout the power transmission and distribution systems. Loads that contain capacitors and inductors - electric motors, pool pumps, the power supplies in modern electronics - put additional strain on the grid, as the reactive portion of these loads causes them to draw more current than an otherwise comparable resistive load (such as a light bulb) would draw for the same amount of kilowatts transferred. This additional current results in heating of the transformer, which wastes energy and results in a reduced service lifetime. Uncorrected reactive power makes it more difficult to stabilize grid voltage. It also drives additional cost throughout the entire grid since everything - wires, transformers, and generators - must be sized to carry the total current.
There has been a dramatic rise in reactive loads in the last two decades, and the problem is accelerating. For example, in the United States before the 1980s, reactive loads from electronic devices were insignificant. In 2010, the load from electronic devices has increased to 40 percent, and by 2016 it is expected to exceed an astonishing 60 percent.
Renewable energies – the transmission and distribution enablers
Technologies and digitalisation are the two key enablers for the large-scale deployment and integration of renewable energies.
The large-scale rollout of utility and customer-sited low carbon generation and its enabling infrastructure across the grid to decarbonise sectors across the economy to meet net-zero targets is filled with numerous challenges.
Norlys wins municipal tender and expands the national charging network with more than 1,600 new charging points
Norlys is in the process of setting up charging points in large parts of the country, and towards the summer of next year, Norlys will set up, among other things, more than 1,600 new charging points in a number of municipalities.
Norlys has won all or parts of public tenders in 15 municipalities.
MARKET NEWS
Commission adopts new implementing act to improve access to metering and consumption data
New EU rules on access to electricity metering and consumption data have been adopted by the Commission today. They aimed to further protect consumers and empower them through digitalisation to be more active in the energy transition. The requirements and procedures implemented under this new secondary legislation will ensure that data on metering and consumption in EU countries use one common reference model.
Today’s implementing regulation is the first of a number of such regulations, which will be put in place in the next two years in order to facilitate the interoperability of energy consumer data, in compliance with Article 24 of the Electricity Directive (EU/2019/944), and one of the key deliverables of the Digitalisation of Energy Action Plan of last October. Subsequent regulations will focus on data relating to customer switching, demand response and other services.
DTEK intends to implement $145 mln Smart Grid project in Kyiv region – company CEO
DTEK Energy Holding intends to implement a $145 million Smart Grid project in Kyiv region, said its CEO Maksym Timchenko.
“We have developed a concept of how to build modern smart grids … We are presenting this project, which will cost us $145 million, here for discussion,” Timchenko said during a business table on reforming the Ukrainian energy sector as part of URC2023.
Power system digitalisation is crucial for clean energy transitions and security in developing markets, but investment is lagging
Report by the IEA 3DEN initiative details the high cost of delaying investments and lays out targeted actions to stimulate grid digitalisation
Digital technologies can greatly improve the functioning of power grids to help successfully integrate clean energy sources, but a lack of investment in these networks could slow down the energy transition and increase costs, particularly in emerging and developing economies.
How smart meters can contribute to carbon neutrality by 2050
As carbon emissions hit an all-time high, it is important to observe how smart meters are reducing energy use, increasing the usage of renewable energy and contributing to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. In order to build a more flexible, decarbonized and decentralized environment, smart meters represent next-generation tools that can impact the way energy is used.
Smart meters have revolutionized the way consumers interact with energy by providing the ability to monitor and manage energy use in real-time. They provide customers with the option to switch energy providers at any time, allowing them to take advantage of competitive rates and special offers that can save money.
EU pays out EUR 1.4 billion to Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania for green transition
The European Union paid out EUR 2.4 billion from its Modernisation Fund in its largest joint disbursement so far, to boost green transition in seven member states including Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania. The three countries have received EUR 1,385 billion in total.
The grants from the Modernisation Fund are for 31 projects for renewable electricity generation, modernization of energy networks, and energy efficiency. They will lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in energy, industry, and transport, the European Commission said.
The Ministry of Energy starts installation of smart electricity meters, with the support of UNDP
The Ministry of Energy launched on 13 June 2023 a pilot programme to install smart meters to measure electricity. The pilot programme is part of the national plan for digitalization of the energy sector and is carried out with the support of the United Nations Development Programme in Moldova.
The first smart meter was installed in the Government building and will help measure and streamline real energy consumption.
The Advantages of Smart Meters in Distributed Energy Resource Management and Control
The Role of Smart Meters in Enhancing Distributed Energy Resource Management and Control
The growing adoption of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage systems has revolutionized the way electricity is generated, transmitted, and consumed. As a result, utilities and grid operators are increasingly seeking innovative solutions to effectively manage and control these resources to ensure grid stability, optimize energy consumption, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One such solution is the deployment of smart meters, which play a critical role in enhancing distributed energy resource management and control.
PRESS RELEASE
The MKI Gathering and Grand Launching of the 78th National Electricity Day Enlit Asia 2023 Kicks Off
26 Jun 2023
Jakarta, May 29th, 2023 – MKI Gathering and ‘Grand Launching of the 78th National Electricity Day – Enlit Asia 2023’ kicked off today, marking its official opening. MKI Gathering is an annual event held by MKI to increase synergy with its members. In the event with the theme "Readiness of the Indonesian Electricity Sector in Achieving the NDC 2030 Target Through the Development of Renewable Energy, MKI also inaugurated the 78th National Electricity Day as well as announced the collaborated program with Enlit Asia 2023 event which will be held on 14-16 November 2023.
With the theme of "Indonesian Electricity Sector Readiness in Achieving 2030 NDC Targets through Renewable Energy Development," the event’s inauguration was led by Jisman P. Hutajulu, Electricity General Director at the Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. Notable figures such as Indonesian Electrical Power Society (Masyarakat Kelistrikan Indonesia/MKI) General Chairperson Evy Haryadi, the 78th National Electricity Day (Hari Listrik Nasional ke-78) General Chairperson Arsyadany G Akmalaputri, and representatives from sponsor organizations, were also attending the event.
Read more…
UPCOMING EVENTS
2023 World Battery Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2023
Solar PV & Energy Storage World Expo 2023 (Formerly PV Guangzhou) Guangzhou, China, 8-10 Augustus 2023
Digital Utilities Europe 2023, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 13-14 September 2023
ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2-5 October 2023
Power Europe 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 9-10 October 2023
World Class Corporate Climat-Neutral Strategies & Energy Management 2023, Frankfurt, Germany, 10-11 October 2023
SGF-IEC Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 16-20 October 2023 Power Europe 2023
XV International Trade Fair ECOENERGY EXPO 2023, Kyiv, Ukraine, 17-19 October 2023
THE GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR DSOS FORUM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 02-03 November 2023
Smart City Expo World Congress 2023, Barcelona, Spain & online, 07-09 November 2023
Enlit Asia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-16 November 2023
May2023
MEMBER NEWS
Networked Energy Services has announced that it will join the the OSGP Alliance as co-exhibitor at the EM-Power Europe 2023 Exhibition taking place in Munich, 14-16 June 2023.
EM-Power Europe Exhibition and Conference is part of The smarter E Europe, the continent’s largest platform for the energy industry, bringing together the four exhibitions Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe, with2,200+ exhibitors and expected 85.000+ visitors.
EM-Power Europe will serve as a great networking opportunity for both OSGP Alliance and NES’ representatives to interact and engage with global energy stakeholders in the smart energy value chain. Specialists and high-level executives from utilities, network operators, vendors, startups and system integrators all looking for innovative solutions to empower the grid and the prosumers will be attending the event.
Download the NES interview here…
New generation electricity meters will be installed at the new locations in Caruna's network - the meter enables a home automation connection
Caruna will install a new generation of electricity meters at new locations in its network starting in May 2023. The new type of meter brings the monitoring of electricity consumption or production to an even more accurate level with the help of a home automation connection. Among other things, some electric car charging solutions can make use of information obtained through the home automation interface.
The new type of meter sends information about consumption, production, current, voltage and power every 10 seconds. The meter has a home automation connection, which enables Caruna customers to monitor their own electricity consumption or production at a more precise level. A separate terminal is connected to the meter and after that monitoring is possible in real time.
Oracle’s meter data system to support El Paso’s smart meter rollout
Starting this month, Texan utility company El Paso Electric (EPE) is coordinating smart meter installations across its base of 460,000 customers with Oracle providing a meter data management system to support and process interval meter data.
EPE announced the partnership yesterday; they will use the Texas-based computer software company’s utilities customer cloud service to upgrade its customer information system.
BMW, E.ON develop ecosystem for smart charging
In a cooperation declared as strategic, BMW and energy provider E.ON intend to develop a charging ecosystem that will enable customers to link their electric car with the energy grid as part of a climate-neutral household.
The focus of the cooperation is on charging at home, which is currently the most important use case for charging electrified vehicles today and will continue to be so in the future. In addition, due to the longer standing times, charging processes in one’s own private garage can be controlled particularly well intelligently. The comprehensive ecosystem that E.ON and the BMW Group intend to build together is to be tailored precisely to this use case. The core element of the planned ecosystem is the creation of a common interface that connects three complex and previously separate systems: Firstly, BMW Group electric vehicles, which include BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce (although the latter is likely to be a rather unlikely participant in such a network); secondly, the customers’ smart home; and thirdly, the public energy grid.
Schneider Electric provides electrical solutions for the restoration of Notre Dame
France, Paris: Schneider Electric and the public institution Rebuilding Notre Dame de Paris have signed a sponsorship agreement.
Under the agreement, the company committed to contributing to the restoration of the cathedral, severely damaged in a fire on 15 April 2019, through in-kind donations and the transfer of skills. Schneider will supply all equipment needed to power the site: transformer station, electrical cabinet and breaker panels.
Energy savings for the house with the support of TAURON
Nearly 80 percent of the owners of micro-installations in TAURON installed it with the desire to generate savings, according to the company's research. Producing electricity from the sun, more effective home heating and repairing home appliances are the solutions of the energy leader that bring real savings in home budgets. Almost half of TAURON's customers use additional services and products offered by the company.
TAURON is launching a new campaign informing about solutions supporting both savings and home energy efficiency.
MARKET NEWS
Unleashing the benefits of data for energy systems
The number of smart power meters worldwide exceeded 1 billion last year, a 10-fold increase since 2010. Meanwhile, connected devices with automated controls and sensors are expected to reach 13 billion in 2023, up from less than a billion a decade ago. This number could reach more than 25 billion in 2030. And there are similar trends in power grids, with around 320 million distribution sensors deployed globally.
All these devices generate data: smart meters collect details on consumption, while sensors transmit real-time data from grids. Well-used, this data brings insights on consumption patterns, foresees grid tensions, and helps manage power systems better. But for that to happen, data needs to be collected, stored, analysed, and shared, while ensuring privacy and cybersecurity. This creates massive challenges for power systems, but also holds huge potential benefits.
METER&CONTROL to join OSGP Alliance booth at EM-Power Europe
METER&CONTROL has announced that it will join the the OSGP Alliance as co-exhibitor at the EM-Power Europe 2023 Exhibition taking place in Munich, 14-16 June 2023.
EM-Power Europe Exhibition and Conference is part of The smarter E Europe, the continent’s largest platform for the energy industry, with 2,200+ exhibitors and expected 85.000+ visitors. The EM-Power Europe Exhibition targets network operators, aggregators and new energy services providers and focuses on renewable energy grid integration, digitalization, energy management, data management and analysis, AMI, monitoring and control, flexibility management, DERMS, cybersecurity, consumer empowerment and related topics.
EM-Power Europe will serve as a great networking opportunity for both OSGP Alliance and METER&CONTROL’s representatives to interact and engage with global energy stakeholders in the smart energy value chain. Specialists and high-level executives from utilities, network operators, vendors, startups and system integrators all looking for innovative solutions to empower the grid and the prosumers will be attending the event.
Download the interview with METER&CONTROL here...
Smart grids help energy companies combat meter tampering, fraud
Meter tampering and bypassing plus uncollected revenue cost energy companies tens of billions of dollars annually.
These "non-technical losses" in the energy sector have proven to be crippling to energy providers, said Ahmed Ashour, CEO and co-founder, Pylon UMP, Egypt.
Smart Meters to revolutionise Kashmir Valley's power supply
The Power Development Department (PDD) stated on Monday that the complete deployment of smart meters would be carried out within the next two years across the Kashmir Valley.
Javed Yousuf Dar, Chief Engineer of PDD, remarked that the government was considering providing an uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers, and as part of this effort, full deployment of smart meters would be accomplished in the next two years across the Kashmir Valley.
The number of smart electricity meters in Latin America to triple by 2028
A new research report from the IoT analyst firm Berg Insight reveals that the penetration of smart electricity meters in Latin America* reached 6.2 percent in 2022.
The installed base of smart electricity meters is forecasted to grow at an impressive compound annual growth rate of 21.7 percent during 2022–2028 to reach a total of 38.4 million units at the end of the forecast period, up from around 11.7 million units in 2022.
Digitizing the Energy System with Digital Twins and Smart Grid Indicators
Europe aims to become climate-neutral by 2050. To achieve this, the transmission and distribution networks urgently need to be expanded and modernized in order to integrate the rapidly growing number of decentralized renewable energy ressources and exchange electricity across national borders. This is the only way to ensure a resilient, sustainable and affordable energy supply. Digital technologies play an important role in making the grid smarter and more efficient. A digital twin of the European power grid will help develop innovative solutions and coordinate investments.
How this works, Peter Vermaat - Secretary General - EU DSO Entity reveals to us in our The smarter E Podcast.
Streamlining situational awareness for electric utilities using smart meters
Reliable and safe electric power is the heartbeat of modern society. Anyone who has lost power for a significant amount of time knows how much it can upend life, from food spoiling without proper refrigeration to being unable to work because essential equipment can’t be powered on.
Mojdeh Khorsand Hedman, an assistant professor of electrical engineering in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, and her doctoral student Zahra Soltani have developed an algorithm to reduce the impact of power outages and malfunction damage to devices connected to the power grid.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Lisbon Energy Summit & Exhibition 2023, Lisbon, Portugal, 30 May - 1 June, 2023
11th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition, Baku, Azerbaijan, 31 May - 02 June 2023
EM-Power Europe 2023, Munich, Germany, 14-16 June 2023 (exhibition), 13-14 June 2023 (conference)
Smart Energy World Summit, Lisbon, Portugal, 14-15 June 2023
2023 World Battery Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2023
Digital Utilities Europe 2023, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 13-14 September 2023
ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2-5 October 2023
Power Europe 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 9-10 October 2023
THE GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT FOR DSOS FORUMAmsterdam, The Netherlands, 02-03 November 2023
Enlit Asia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-16 November 2023
Apr2023
MEMBER NEWS
OSGP Alliance exhibiting at EM-Power Europe in Munich, 14-16 June 2023
Following up on their previous successful participation, OSGP Alliance will join EM-Power Europe in Munich, (conference 13-14 June, Exhibition 14-16 June), part of The smarter E Europe, the continent’s largest platform for the energy industry, bringing together the four exhibitions Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe, with 2,200+ exhibitors and expected 85.000+ visitors.
OSGP Alliance is pleased to welcome Networked Energy Services (NES) and METER&CONTROL as co-exhibitors. The EM-Power Europe Exhibition targets grid operators, utilities, aggregators and new energy services providers. It focuses on modernizing and digitalizing the power grid into a smart grid, injecting flexibility and integrating prosumers, energy management, data management and analysis, AMI, and related topics.
EM-Power Europe will serve as a great networking opportunity for the OSGP Alliance, NES and METER&CONTROL to interact and engage with global energy stakeholders in the smart energy value chain - specialists and high-level executives from utilities, grid operators, vendors, startups and system integrators all looking for innovative solutions to empower the grids and the prosumers.
Visit us at B5.133!
Free exhibition and discount conference registration for OSGP newsletter readers
N1 intends to make a smart investment of DKK 2 billion in the electricity grid - every year
The task is enormous, and the future is already here. Every day, more wind turbines and solar cells as well as lots of new heat pumps and electric cars are connected to the grid in the great electrification of society. This is a huge transition, but Jutland's largest electricity company is in full control of its part of the task and is already investing large sums in the expansion of the grid.
The biggest challenge in the coming years will be to invest the money wisely and correctly.
Smart metering major component of Tauron’s updated research agenda
Polish DSO Tauron has announced a renewed research agenda, with numerous aspects focusing on developing smart metering technology and distribution.
The utility’s new research agenda follows the completion of their Strategic Research Agenda of 2018, which, according to the utility, saw several successful undertakings, such as the implementation of blockchain technology and the launching of a microgrid in Bytom.
Three-quarters of Dutch companies will soon be driving fully electrically
Three-quarters of Dutch companies plan to fully switch to electric vehicles within three years. This is the conclusion of an international study by Vattenfall among companies that have their own fleet or company cars. Most companies cite social responsibility and improving their CO2 balance as the main reason for moving away from vehicles with internal combustion engines.
The Netherlands and the EU have set ambitious goals to encourage the use of electric vehicles. The Netherlands has been at the forefront of this movement for some time: no other country in the EU has as many charging stations as here. It is therefore no surprise that 84 percent of Dutch companies are (very) open to a switch to electric transport for their employees.
A smarter electricity network limits power outages itself - Caruna's pilot will be implemented in 12 municipalities where the next storm will cause shorter outages
In the future, power outages will be shorter and supply reliability will improve when intelligence is added to the electricity grid in Caruna's new project. Experiments are carried out on the electricity network in stages. The spring 2023 pilot includes 12 substations from 12 municipalities.
Currently, the operators of the electricity distribution company return electricity to the grid manually. The pilot test examines whether the system can automatically locate and isolate the fault and restore electricity to customers outside of the fault.
The route to a climate-neutral 2050: these are the scenarios
Netbeheer Nederland today published the 'II3050' study. This gives network operators insight into how society can grow towards a climate-neutral energy system in 2050. Four scenarios emerge from the study, which respond to the necessary change in which we move from a 'demand-oriented' to a 'supply-oriented' energy system. There is work to be done. We must understand that today's political choices have a direct impact on how we prepare the energy system together for an energy-neutral Netherlands.
The transition from fossil to only sustainably generated energy means that we in the Netherlands have to coordinate energy supply and demand even better. And that society must be flexible in its use of energy. Due to a strongly increasing demand for network capacity, network operators must use their time, people and materials as efficiently as possible towards 2050 in order to maintain the level of security of supply and to achieve the climate objectives.
MARKET NEWS
New study: Identifying the best policy for energy market design
The objective to transform Europe’s economy towards net-zero by 2050 is a challenge which will require massive investments across the energy sector. While the ongoing energy crisis has demonstrated the benefits of an integrated European market, it has also revealed the necessity for comprehensive reforms of the current market design to provide future resilience and affordability.
A new study from Eurelectric, the European electricity industry association, is providing fresh, timely analysis on how the future electricity market design can successfully target net zero. Based on its findings, the expert study derives several policy recommendations for a quick, affordable, and efficient energy transition despite global challenges such as the war in Ukraine and climate change.
Sustainability vs energy security: Using one to achieve the other
The energy trilemma of energy security, affordability and sustainability guides the energy transition now more than ever.
However, frequently questioned is which corner of the trilemma needs to get priority, especially when it comes to security versus sustainability.
EU launches EUR 750 million call for energy infrastructure projects under CEF Energy
The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) has launched a call for proposals for key cross-border EU energy infrastructure projects included on the fifth list of projects of common interest, to be co-financed through grants worth EUR 750 million from the EU budget.
he support was secured under the Connecting Europe Facility – Energy (CEF Energy).
Oman: Interlinking north-south power grids to strengthen renewable energy projects
Muscat: The electricity sector is one of the vital sectors that the Ministry of Energy and Minerals relies on in advancing the national economy, improving its performance and raising its efficiency.
Companies operating in the electricity sector pump large and continuous investments in the development of the infrastructure of the sector in order to maintain reliability of service and keep pace with the growth in demand for power in response to economic growth, and strive to introduce modern technology in line with best practices and emerging technologies in the world.
Engineering Cybersecurity into U.S. Critical Infrastructure
In its National Cybersecurity Strategy published on March 2, the Biden administration calls for major changes in how the United States prioritizes the security of software systems used in critical infrastructure. It acknowledges that the de facto approach — until now essentially “let the buyer beware” — leaves entities who are least able to assess or defend vulnerable software responsible for the impacts of designed-in weaknesses while the makers of the technology bear no liability. The strategy recommends a security-by-design approach that includes making software vendors liable for upholding a “duty of care” to consumers and for systems to be designed to “fail safely and recover quickly.”
For energy infrastructure, the strategy calls out the need to implement a “national cyber-informed engineering strategy” to achieve markedly more effective cybersecurity protections. This article provides a high-level overview of what that entails.
On The Horizon For Smart Cities: How AI And IoT Are Transforming Urban Living
As cities around the world become more crowded and complex, the need for innovative, efficient solutions has never been greater. Smart cities—what once felt like a futuristic pipedream—are emerging as an answer, leveraging advanced technology to optimize infrastructure, services and resources.
For those curious about what makes a city truly smart, look no further than the powerful duo of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). This combination of innovative technology is transforming the way we live and interact with urban surroundings. As the founder of a company working closely with municipalities and organizations around the globe––from Taiwan to Mexico to the Philippines––I've had the opportunity to witness firsthand how powerful these technologies can be when working together.
UPCOMING EVENTS
World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8-10 May, 2023
World Energy Storage Exhibition & Forum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 10-11 May, 2023
SGF-Cybersecurity Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-19 May, 2023
Lisbon Energy Summit & Exhibition 2023, Lisbon, Portugal, 30 May-1 June, 2023
11th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition, Baku, Azerbaijan, 31 May - 02 June 2023
EM-Power Europe 2023, Munich, Germany, 14-16 June 2023 (exhibition), 13-14 June 2023 (conference)
Smart Energy World Summit, Lisbon, Portugal, 14-15 June 2023
2023 World Battery Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2023
Digital Utilities Europe 2023, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 13-14 September 2023
ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2-5 October 2023
Power Europe 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 9-10 October 2023
The Global Asset Management For DSOs Forum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 02-03 November 2023
Enlit Asia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-16 November 2023
Mar2023
MEMBER NEWS
Vattenfall Energy Savings Barometer: Smart measures and investments against the energy crisis
Consumers in Europe are tackling the energy crisis by a mix of small behavioural changes in their everyday life, but also by investing in energy efficiency measures. Among age groups, younger people between 18-35 years have so far been least likely to change their behaviour in daily life to save energy. Compared to other countries, the French seem to have adapted most in their efforts to consume less energy while the most innovative consumers live in the Netherlands. These are some of the results in Vattenfall’s new energy savings barometer.
"The results show that customers perceive the energy crisis to be overcome by joint social efforts. It is the sum of small and big steps that will help to keep prices under control in the short run and transform our energy system towards a fossil free future," says Martijn Hagens, Head of Customers & Solutions and Heat at Vattenfall.
Prospects for waiting time at charging stations and higher electricity prices: The energy industry is tripping to expand the electricity grid
Denmark's electricity grid needs an upgrade in the billions range if we are to keep up with the not-so-distant future's increasing number of electric cars, energy parks and heat pumps. According to the industry, sluggish politics prevents the grid companies from advancing the green agenda.
Energy: We will see more electric cars, heat pumps and wind turbines in the Danish countryside in the coming years.
TAURON invests in education. Schools will receive 100,000 each. zloty
TAURON's Green Laboratories is a program under which four schools will be selected, and each of them will receive PLN 100,000 for the renovation and equipment of science labs. Details are available at laboratoria.tauron.pl. Primary and secondary schools from the south of Poland may participate in the programme. On March 21, TAURON announced the details of the program in the Secondary School Complex No. 14 in Gliwice, which was the beneficiary of last year's edition.
- TAURON is consistently developing the knowledge-based economy. Building a modern power industry based on renewable sources, we need professionals who will be ready to face new challenges. Therefore, thinking about the future of the company and the economy in the south of Poland, we invest in schools, because it is knowledge that gives the highest rate of return on invested capital - explains Paweł Szczeszek, President of the Management Board of TAURON Polska Energia.
E.ON ups spending to $35 billion on optimistic outlook
ESSEN, Germany/DUESSELDORF, March 15 (Reuters) - E.ON, Europe's biggest operator of energy networks, plans to boost core profit by 12% and raise investment in its grids and retail businesses by a fifth to 33 billion euros ($35 billion) by 2027, it said on Wednesday, sending its shares to a one-year high.
The investment, which is mostly directed towards the company's power and gas networks, foresees the group's adjusted core profit rising to around 9 billion euros by then, the company said, an increase of around 12% compared with 2023.
Linz AG invests 20 million euros in e-mobility
LINZ. Linz AG is planning a series of projects in the field of e-mobility. In the next three to five years, the charging points for this in residential complexes as well as fast charging options are to increase.
In the coming years, Linz Ag is planning investments of 20 million euros in the field of e-mobility. "Our ambitious goal is that by 2028 at least one new fast or high-quality charging option will be created every week on average," says LINZ AG General Director Erich Haider. By 2025, more than 150 residential complexes are to be e-ladefit.
The way the electricity network is built can reduce and shorten power outages - with new intelligence, electricity can be restored even in seconds
The security of electricity supply depends not only on the availability of energy, but also on the condition of the electricity network and continuous development work. In recent years, the development of Caruna's electricity network has received a lot of new intelligence, thanks to which there are fewer power outages than before, and they are also shorter in duration.
"A large part of grid disruptions is caused by weather conditions, which is why the construction method has been purposefully developed for over ten years. The cabling of the electrical network makes the electrical network weatherproof, and for example winter snow loads do not cause faults in the cables," says Elina Lehtomäki, Caruna's electrical network director.
Grupa Apator for the first time in history exceeded the level of PLN 1 billion in revenues
In 2022, consolidated sales revenues increased by 15% y/y. to PLN 1,081.6 million, mainly due to the continued trend of returning to high sales in Electricity (PLN 439.2 million, +17% y/y), record-breaking revenues in Water and Heat (PLN 360.9 million, +22%) y/y) and a slight increase in the Gas segment (PLN 281.5 million, +4% y/y). The consolidated financial results for Q1-Q4 2022, after adjusting for the impact of one-off events (write-down on the Gas segment of the British company GWi), amounted to: EBITDA: PLN 102.8 million, and net profit: PLN 20.4 million.
In the 4th quarter alone, Apator had PLN 12.6 million net profit of the parent company compared to approx. PLN 1 million net loss a year earlier. The consensus developed by PAP assumed a net profit in the range of PLN 5.4-8.5 million. The group's revenue in the fourth quarter amounted to PLN 306.6 million compared to PLN 238 million a year earlier, and the operating profit increased to PLN 17.9 million from PLN 5.2 million a year ago. As the company explains, financial results throughout 2022 were subject to external factors negatively affecting margins and the levels of generated profits.
MARKET NEWS
Smart metering to generate $60 Billion in revenue for vendors globally by 2027, according to Juniper Reseaarch
Hampshire, UK – 21st March 2023: A new study from Juniper Research, foremost experts in the sustainable technology market today, found that hardware, connectivity and service revenue from smart meter deployments, and in use, will exceed $60 billion in 2027; up from $41 billion in 2023.
This 44% growth reflects how smart meters are becoming critical to increasing the efficiency of energy grids via analytics; central to lowering costs to customers during the energy price crisis.
EVs for EV-eryone: new report unveils the essentials to scale e-mobility
Soaring energy prices and supply chain disturbances have not stopped EVs in Europe. Yet, as the EV industry gets ready to reach scale, consumers must be at the centre of this EV-olution. A new Eurelectric-EY study presents the six essentials to turn EVs into an affordable, reliable, user-friendly choice for every car owner across Europe.
2022 was a bumper year for e-mobility. EV sales won around 20% of the market, up from 17% in 2021, reaching 8 million units in Europe. Driving into the mainstream, however, will depend on the ability to convince the mass-market customer to take the EV-turn.
The power grid: Why a smart meter AMI system is the way to go
In today’s world, the power grid is becoming increasingly unstable and unreliable. To combat this problem, many utility companies are turning to a new technology: an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. An AMI system utilizes smart meters that measure and record electricity usage, allowing for a more efficient and stable power grid. This blog post will discuss the benefits of having an AMI system, and why it is the best way to go for improving the power grid.
The power grid is a system solution that supplies electricity to homes and businesses. It is made up of generators, transmission lines, distribution networks, and transformers. The grid is managed by utility companies, who have the responsibility of ensuring that the electricity generated is distributed to all customers in an efficient and reliable manner.
E.DSO maps digitalised energy system transformation in new whitepaper
A roadmap on the metering value chain is among actions proposed by E.DSO in a new white paper for a decentralised and digitalised energy system in Europe.
Aspects that should be incorporated include the role of the existing smart meter, the use of relevant submeter data, the ability to communicate control signals, the distributed computing capacity and interoperable solutions and the ability to communicate with controlling equipment such as a home energy management system and other energy-relevant appliances.
Moldova: EIB Global invests $30 M to modernise electricity distribution grid
The $30 million in financing provided by EIB Global will help Moldova’s Premier Energy Distribution improve the quality and reliability of the electrical power network.
The financing aims at the modernisation, digitalisation and expansion of the electricity distribution grid in the central and southern parts of Moldova, including Chisinau.
Securing the EU’s electricity supply
At the beginning of February, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) released a report examining the future of Germany’s electricity supply from 2025 to 2030. The report found that the security of supply is ensured. To some, that might have been a puzzling conclusion, considering the country’s electricity consumption will increase significantly from the current 550 terawatt hours (TWh) per year. Meanwhile, nuclear power plants are due to be phased out by April 15, 2023, while the use of coal in electricity generation is due to end by 2030.
A closer look at the report, however, reveals that this conclusion is based on preconditions and best-case scenarios – both for sufficient generation capacity and grid expansion. As the report stated: “Now discipline and consistency are required. We are continuing to resolutely push ahead with the restructuring of our energy supply. This applies to the expansion of renewable energies, grid expansion and the modernization of the power plant fleet.” This achievement will require flexible loads and storage capacities for helping to regulate demand, as well as additional power plants built for the intermittent generation of wind and sun.
UPCOMING EVENTS
International SAP Conference for Utilities, Basel, Switzerland, 18-20 April, 2023
METERING China 2023 Conference & Exhibition, Qingdao, China, 25-28 April, 2023
SMARTGREENS 2023, Prague, Czech Republic, 26-28 April, 2023
Power Europe Congress 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 26-28 April, 2023
World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8-10 May, 2023
World Energy Storage Exhibition & Forum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 10-11 May, 2023
SGF-Cybersecurity Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-19 May, 2023
Lisbon Energy Summit & Exhibition 2023, Lisbon, Portugal, 30 May -1 June, 2023
EM-Power Europe 2023, Munich, Germany, 14-16 June 2023 (exhibition), 13-14 June 2023 (conference)
2023 World Battery Industry Expo (WBE), Guangzhou, China, 8-10 August 2023
Digital Utilities Europe 2023, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 13-14 September, 2023
ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2-5 October 2023
Enlit Asia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 14-16 November, 2023
Feb2023
MEMBER NEWS
Addressing key issues in the low-voltage distribution market
This interview highlights the main problems in the low-voltage (LV) distribution energy market, especially regarding the DSO and resolutions, supported by the EU Clean Energy Package.
Senior Vice President of Networked Energy Services Corporation, Mark Ossel, explains how using OSGP protocol provides greater insight into the dynamics of the LV Grid.
Grupa Apator will perform a large contract for Tauron
Under the concluded contracts, Apator will provide smart meters in the OSGP standard, while FAP Pafal (subsidiary) will perform the service of installation and storage of electricity meters. The total value of the contract for Grupa Apator will be approx. PLN 60 million, with the possibility of increasing it to approx. PLN 66 million if the ordering party uses the option right.
Executive agreements are the result of the agreement signed on June 14, 2022 between TD and the consortium of Apator and Griffin Group SA Energy. The contract covers, apart from the supply of smart meters, installation and storage services, as well as clean-up works, which are the responsibility of Griffin Group SA Energy. The implementation of the tasks provided for in the contracts will start in the first quarter of 2023 and will last until the third quarter of 2025.
Visit OSGP Alliance at EM-Power Europe 2023
As official partner, the OSGP Alliance will exhibit at EM-Power Europe 2023 taking place in Munich, 14-16 June 2023.
EM-Power Europe, the international exhibition for energy management and integrated energy solutions is part of The smarter E Europe, the continent’s largest platform for the energy industry, bringing together the four exhibitions Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe, attended by 1.600 exhibitors and 65.000 visitors (in 2022).
EM-Power Europe presents innovative technologies and solutions for smart, flexible, responsive networks and markets that also empower consumers. The exhibition addresses exhibitor groups focusing on Grid infrastructure, digitalisation, advanced metering, energy management, monitoring & control, Virtual Power Plants, flexibility management, energy services and DERs.
We look forward to welcoming you to our stand in Munich!
Let the Smart Energy transition begin…
The smart energy transition is going to require more than a strong vision to achieve the ambitious goals and objectives defined in global directives and initiatives, such as the European Commission’s Clean Energy Package (CEP), US Green New Deal, the European Green Deal, and the Paris Climate Agreement.
While these initiatives do a great job of setting high-level objectives to address climate and energy concerns, we need investment, planning, infrastructure, and hard work to drive us forward in the smart energy transition.
Poland’s Tauron announces 1 million smart meters milestone
Polish TSO Tauron has announced the installation of 1 million modern remote reading meters (VOC) for their customers, with the aim of installing another 100,000 by the end of 2023 in the hopes of better coordinating electricity consumption.
TAURON Dystrybucja cites the installation as enabling them to automatically obtain data across grid operations, allowing for better control and planning of energy consumption.
Field test passed: Smart City applications make communities more livable
Less time required, less costs, but more security and more sustainability - Thüga and badenovaNETZE draw a positive balance for Smart City applications, which they have examined together in a real laboratory. The solutions increase the quality of life on site and are easy to implement, according to the feedback from the municipalities.
Five municipalities (Breisach am Rhein, Freiburg Gundelfingen, Kirchzarten, Lahr) took part in the real laboratory "Smart Region Südbaden" for two years under the leadership of Thüga and badenovaNETZE. The practical test dealt with four key questions: How can innovative smart city applications be technically implemented? What about their profitability? How do the citizens benefit in concrete terms? And how sustainable are the solutions? Among other things, the remote reading of water and heat meters, the occupancy detection of mobile home parking spaces and parking spaces for the disabled, soil moisture measurement, flood monitoring and the fill level sensors for used glass containers were examined.
Urbanization challenges our electricity system - there is no time to waste
Achieving climate goals and increasing electricity consumption is about something unprecedented. By waiting, we will not be able to respond to this change, writes Elina Lehtomäki, Caruna's electricity grid director.
The previous stable development has changed to a significantly faster pace. Now the strengthening and construction of networks must be done much more vigorously. Instead of historical data, various forecast models and analyzes are helpful.
MARKET NEWS
The smarter E Europe 2023: Start-Ups and Young Companies to the New Energy World Take Center Stage
Munich/Pforzheim, January 19, 2023: The smarter E Europe 2023, Europe’s largest platform for the energy industry, offers a comprehensive overview of the latest developments and trends in the areas of renewable energies, decentralization and digitalization of the energy industry and presents cross-sector solutions from the electricity, heat and transport sectors. From June 14–16, 2023, Messe München will be hosting the exhibition across 176,000 square meters in 16 halls. 85,000 visitors are being expected – a great stage for start-ups and newcomers with support from the German government or the exhibition organizers.
The area for start-ups and newcomers at the The smarter E Europe innovation hub has been extremely successful: In 2022, 78 start-ups from 15 countries showcased their products. Many of them have written success stories, such as Voltfang GmbH, for example: In 2022, the company received funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action to present a commercial storage device made from second-life car batteries at the joint booth “Innovation Made in Germany”. The green storage device received the innovation prize of the storage industry, the ees AWARD. This year, Voltfang GmbH will already have its own 90 square meter-booth at The smarter E Europe.
ESET Research: Russian APT groups, including Sandworm, continue their attacks against Ukraine with wipers and ransomware
BRATISLAVA, MONTREAL — January 31, 2023 — ESET Research today released its latest APT Activity Report, which summarizes discoveries about select advanced persistent threat (APT) groups that were observed, investigated, and analyzed by ESET researchers between September and the end of December (T3) 2022. During this period, Russia-aligned APT groups continued to be particularly involved in operations targeting Ukraine, deploying destructive wipers and ransomware. Goblin Panda, a China-aligned group, started to duplicate Mustang Panda’s interest in European countries. Iran-aligned groups continued to operate at a high volume, too.
In Ukraine, ESET detected the infamous Sandworm group using a previously unknown wiper against an energy sector company. Nation-state or state-sponsored actors usually operate APT groups; the described attack happened in October during the same period when Russian armed forces began
Gridlock: how the Netherlands hit capacity
What happens when there’s no give on the grid? Dutch utilities have found out, as Yusuf Latief reports.
The European energy transition is characterised by a plethora of buzzwords – sustainability, green energy, digital innovation, AI and automation, to name a few. But there are two words on the tip of utility tongues that might leave them a little afraid – at capacity.
Read more…
Digitalisation as a key enabler for a resilient and sustainable energy ecosystem
The EU should use the current energy crisis as an opportunity to increase collaboration between the digital and energy sectors. Digital technologies can help the EU transition away from a state of energy dependency – preventing Russia, for instance, from continuing its weaponisation of energy resources – and instead allow it to embrace energy sovereignty through accelerating the rollout of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and saving costs for EU consumers and business.
As well as the energy crisis, digital is a ‘must-have’ in the fight to reduce emissions more broadly, and the EU has a collective responsibility to not only firmly acknowledge this fact, but to now actively work with digital to allow it to fulfil its enabling potential.
Smart Grid Evolution in 2023: The future of energy management
In 2023, Smart Meter Integration will continue to evolve. Communication technologies are continuing to change, making it easier for both customers and utilities to manage their energy use. As we move forward, there are a few things that we can expect.
In the next years, we will see more widespread use of smart meters in residential and commercial buildings in all regions of the world, combined with advanced integration software.
Union Budget 2023: Mainstreaming flexible and resilient grids
2023 is going to be a critical year for India, with the country taking up the G-20 presidency and this being the penultimate year for the next general elections. Thus, a slew of economic reforms could be expected.
In the electricity sector, there have been several hits and misses in the past but the Indian growth story remains strong. The sector bounced back rather quickly post-Covid, particularly in terms of electricity demand that registered the highest ever daily peak of 212.6 GW in June’22, up 9% from the prior year and up 16% from pre-COVID-19 levels. The sharp increase in demand is a testimony to our growing economy as well as an indication of rising temperatures and climate change.
PRESS RELEASES
Networked Energy Services Selected to Deliver Transformer Balancing Solution for Albania
The solution for OSHEE will use NES Smart Meters to improve revenue generation and reduce energy distribution losses.
San Jose, CA, February 8, 2023: Networked Energy Services Corporation (NES), a global smart grid solution provider with the industry’s leading Energy Applications Platform (EAPTM), is delighted to announce that OSHEE (Electricity Power Distribution System Operator) in Albania has selected NES, and its local partner ACI, for its transformer balancing and smart metering project. This new project follows the successful completion of an NES smart metering project for residential, business and light industry consumers in Tirana.
OSHEE’s new project includes the supply and installation of a smart metering system for its distribution substations. This includes smart meters, communications, and associated software and services. This project includes more than 3,000 distribution transformers, and is the first phase of a multi-phase project to provide a transformer balancing solution for all of OSHEE’s substations. NES will be providing its OSGP (open smart grid protocol) based smart metering solution, its smart meter operational support system, Grid Operations, and its analytics solutions. The smart grid solution will be deployed in cooperation with NES partner, ACI, an established energy services and infrastructure provider in Albania and supplier to OSHEE, who will perform installation services for the NES System.
Africa Energy Indaba 2023 Reinstates B2B Connect Programme to engage Energy Stakeholders
The Africa Energy Indaba draws government officials, CEOs of private ventures, and high-level executives from across the continent, providing the rare opportunity to expand their business network within the industry. Moreover, participants comprise of distinguished stakeholders such as energy industry producers, government officers, high-end consumers, investors, industry experts, project developers among others.
As the continent’s most influential energy industry event, attendees are privy to the most exclusive industry content and experts. Notwithstanding, the 2023 Africa Energy Indaba is proud to reinstate its MarketPlace B2BConnect Programme which provides exhibitors and delegates the unique opportunity to engage with prominent event guests, speakers, sponsors, investors and other attendees that they would otherwise not be able to meet personally.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Smart Energy Indonesia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2-4 March 2023
Energy Indaba Conference & Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, 7-9 March 2023
Oman Sustainability Week 2023, Muscat, Oman, 12-16 March 2023
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-16 March 2023
SGTech Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-24 March 2023
International SAP Conference for Utilities, Basel, Switzerland, 18-20 April, 2023
SMARTGREENS 2023, Prague, Czech Republic, 26-28 April, 2023
Power Europe Congress 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 26-28 April, 2023
World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8-10 May, 2023
World Energy Storage Exhibition & Forum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 10-11 May, 2023
SGF-Cybersecurity Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-19 May, 2023
EM-Power Europe 2023, Munich, Germany, 14-16 June 2023 (exhibition), 13-14 June 2023 (conference)
Jan2023
MEMBER NEWS
TAURON is strengthening the networks for electromobility. There is an agreement with the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management
In Wrocław, TAURON is starting a project to expand the power grid in terms of the development of infrastructure for electric vehicles. The investment, worth nearly PLN 26 million, will be co-financed by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The agreement was signed today in Wrocław.
- The development of distribution and transmission networks is crucial. Therefore, the President of the Energy Regulatory Office approved his plan. PLN 52 billion will be spent on the development of the power infrastructure, and we want to increase these expenditures in the coming years, emphasizes Ireneusz Zyska, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment.
Alliander Is Opening an AI Lab for Grid Digitalisation
The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) awarded the subsidy to Alliander and its partners, including UTwente, TU Delft, Radboud and HAN University of Applied Sciences.
According to the TSO, the lab will be part of the Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI), a Dutch national network focused on developing technology through collaboration between academia, industry and government in the area of AI.
LINZ AG is equipping 80 SPAR branches with an e-charging infrastructure
By 2028, Upper Austria's largest charging infrastructure provider will equip around 80 branches of Austria's largest retailer with charging stations. More than half of these will be completed by 2025. The locations are widely spread throughout the state. The implementation of the forward-looking project will begin in the first half of 2023. Up to six charging points will be created at the selected branches. Overall, more than half of these will be so-called “high power chargers”, which ensure particularly fast charging processes with a charging capacity of up to 150 kW.
Eltel will build IONITY's next high-power charging stations in Finland
IONITY, Europe's leading electric car charging network operator, and Eltel are jointly building the next wave of IONITY super-fast HPC charging stations. The stations will be located in different parts of Finland and construction will begin in the first half of 2023. Eltel estimates the value of the new contract to be around 2-3 million euros over the next two years.
The new charging stations significantly increase the number of IONITY's HPC stations in Finland. IONITY's stations in Paimio, Hämeenlinna's Tiiriö and Lahti's Karisto are also built by Eltel.
Schneider Electric calls for greater efforts to accelerate the energy transition and address the energy crisis: decarbonization and efficiency are key
Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today issued an urgent call for governments and companies around the world to accelerate their sustainability action and step up investments into technologies that will help them reduce their carbon emissions and bolster their energy security.
The call comes amid spiking energy prices, an energy supply crisis and fast accelerating climate change, which together pose major challenges for companies, economies and societies around the globe. These challenges form the backdrop for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, from 16-20 January, which senior Schneider Electric executives will attend.
Duke Energy Carolinas requests rate review by North Carolina Utilities Commission to build a cleaner, more reliable energy future
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Energy Carolinas today asked North Carolina regulators to review its rates as the company continues to strengthen the electricity grid to improve reliability for customers and facilitate a cleaner, more secure energy future in a manner that supports economic development across the state.
The rate case includes a three-year plan to fund system improvements, including nearly $4.2 billion in future grid infrastructure upgrades to increase reliability and enhance grid security while enabling renewables, EVs, and supporting economic development and new jobs. Duke Energy is evaluating ways to leverage the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to help offset these investments and save money for customers.
MARKET NEWS
Why digitalization is both a threat and opportunity for energy companies
Looking back at the 2022 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, few global policymakers and business leaders could have predicted the forthcoming year. Yet, the cascading effects of a global pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and critical supply chain distributions have destabilized the entire global energy ecosystem.
These crises fundamentally shifted geopolitics and jeopardized energy and economic security. But they also crystallized how to leverage digital technology to address these issues and the existential threat of climate change through effective energy transition.
Why Data Is The New Oil For Middle East Energy Providers
Digitalization of the U.S. energy industry has revolutionized how utilities approach grid management and engage with consumers in an evolving landscape. With much of today’s digital innovation stemming from tech hubs like Silicon Valley in California, progressive U.S. utilities have been deploying techniques like artificial intelligence (AI)-powered analytics on consumer data. But, as consumer data proves an increasingly valuable asset for understanding how energy supply and demand flow through a utility’s service territories, it’s no surprise countries around the world are looking to replicate this success.
The Middle East (the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in particular) is undergoing tremendous digital transformation, with the first step involving the rapid installation of smart meters.
Germany mandates smart metering from 2025
The German government has adopted a draft law to restart the digitalisation of the energy transition and accelerate the rollout of smart metering.
The law, which enters into force in the Spring of 2023, enables large scale smart metering rollout to start immediately before becoming mandatory from 2025 and provides a roadmap with binding deadlines to achieve an essentially full rollout by 2030.
ZETDC in US$35m smart meter scheme
The Zimbabwe Electricity Tgansmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) yesterday launched a US$ 35 million prepaid and smart metering roll-out programme as it seeks to curb growing debt risks due to payments default by major electricity consumers
ZETDC, the power transmission unit of ZESA Holdings, is owed approximately $42 billion by customers who are still post-paid meters
Smart grid candidate PCIs/PMIs announced
Six electricity and four gas smart grid projects have been proposed for the EU’s first list of projects of common interest (PCI) and projects of mutual interest (PMI).
The projects, which are currently under consultation, are proposed as key cross-border infrastructure initiatives to further integrate and strengthen the EU energy market under the revised TEN-E (Trans-European Networks for Energy) regulation of May 2022.
Digital twin of European electricity grid to be developed
Europe’s transmission and distribution system operators through their associations ENTSO-E and EU DSO Entity are to develop a digital twin of the region’s electricity grid.
In a declaration of intent the two industry organisations have committed to the joint development of the digital twin as part of the ongoing digitalisation of the energy sector.
UPCOMING EVENTS
DISTRIBUTECH International, San Diego, USA, 7-9 February 2023
India Smart Utility Week (ISUW), New Delhi, India, 1-4 March 2023
Smart Energy Indonesia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2-4 March 2023
Energy Indaba Conference & Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, 7-9 March 2023
Oman Sustainability Week 2023, Muscat, Oman, 12-13 March 2023
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-16 March 2023
SGTech Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-24 March 2023
SMARTGREENS 2023, Prague, Czech Republic, 26-28 April, 2023
Power Europe Congress 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 26-28 April, 2023
World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8-10 May, 2023
World Energy Storage Exhibition & Forum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 10-11 May, 2023
SGF-Cybersecurity Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-19 May, 2023
EM-Power Europe 2023, Munich, Germany, 14-16 June 2023 (exhibition), 13-14 June 2023 (conference)
Dec2022
MEMBER NEWS
Successful trial in Amsterdam: charging more electric cars in a loaded power grid
A test with smart charging shows that it is possible to charge more electric cars on Amsterdam's loaded electricity grid. “With smart charging, three to four times more new charging points can be installed within the boundaries of the existing electricity network,” says Pieter van Ommeren, director of Vattenfall InCharge.
The test used flexible charging speed at public charging points for electric cars. The charging speed adapts to the total number of cars charging at a given time and the capacity available on the grid at that time.
New market manager at Eltel Danmark predicts great opportunities in the electricity supply industry in 2023
Jørgen Christensen's arrival as market manager at Eltel Danmark comes amid the biggest recent restructuring of Denmark's electricity supply, with investments not seen since the current grid was created in the 1960s.
But the growth of electricity supply projects is not limited to the modernization and strengthening of the electricity network. Investing in the grid is rather a way to ensure that we as a country are able to implement a large number of green energy projects such as wind farms, solar systems, Power-to-X, charging station projects, etc.
E.ON urges new smart meter customers to participate in National Grid energy-saving reward scheme this winter
E.ON has announced that five million self-reading smart meters are now providing customers with live data on how much energy they are using and what it is costing them at any time. Customers with a smart meter providing half hourly reads can take part in the Demand Flexibility Service (DFS), a new initiative this winter which rewards households for reducing their energy consumption at specified peak times.
The DFS is a project being run by the National Grid Electricity Supply Operators (ESO) which is available to energy suppliers and aims to reduce energy use at peak times to make the grid greener this winter. Lowering peak time energy usage will make use of more off-peak renewable energy, lower peak time energy prices, and avoid using back-up coal generators that are heavily polluting.
ÖAMTC and Linz AG: 400 new charging points for electric mobility
LINZ. In cooperation with Linz AG, ÖAMTC expands the range of electronic chargers. Added 400 public charging points. As the number of electric vehicle users increases, so does the need for charging infrastructure.
According to Statistics Austria, 14.9 percent of new passenger car registrations this year were purely electric vehicles, and there are currently more than 103,000 electric vehicles on the road in Austria. However, the transition to e-mobility can only be successful if there is a sufficient number of charging stations for electric vehicles. The ÖAMTC Mobility Club in cooperation with Linz AG is now expanding its range of electronic chargers to 400 more public charging points. According to E-Control's quarterly report, there are around 13,809 public charging stations in Austria, most of them in Lower Austria, Vienna and Tyrol.
Conlog: Finding new ways to get closer to the consumer
Have a listen to Sibusiso Skosana, Commercial Director at Conlog, unpack how Conlog achieves synergy between consumers and utilities.
Watch this exclusive interview as we discuss Conlog’s new products and solutions aimed at the private property market space and how these new innovations are helping them get closer to the consumer.
NRGI buys energy consultancy from ANDEL ENERGI
The deal, which comes into effect on 1 January 2023, is part of both companies' respective strategies within the green transition.
The acquisition of Andel Energi's energy consultancy for the professional market will strengthen NRGi's position as one of Denmark's strongest consultancy firms.
MARKET NEWS
Smart grid cost savings to exceed $125 billion by 2027, as governments and utilities prioritise analytics to combat energy crisis
Hampshire, UK – 28th November 2022: A new study from Juniper Research has found cost savings from smart grid deployments will exceed $125 billion globally in 2027; increasing from just over $33 billion in 2022.
This 279% growth will be driven by rising energy prices, with smart grid technologies playing a critical role in increasing network efficiency and optimising resource management. The Smart Grid market report identified abilities of AI-based analytics as crucial to maximising benefits of new renewable energy sources, by actively balancing load and optimising energy transmission.
DOE puts another $13B toward modernizing, expanding U.S. power grid
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $13 billion in new financing opportunities for the expansion and modernization of the nation’s electric grid.
The Grid Resilience Innovative Partnership (GRIP) program and the Transmission Facilitation Program together represent the largest single direct federal investment in critical transmission and distribution infrastructure and one of the first down payments on an over $20 billion investment under the Biden administration’s Building a Better Grid Initiative. Launched in January 2022, the Building a Better Grid Initiative brings together community and industry stakeholders to identify national transmission needs and is investing more than $20 billion to support the modernization and buildout of long-distance, high-voltage transmission and distribution systems.
Germany Wants to Make Smart Meters Mandatory to Help Reach Green Goals
Germany wants to make smart meters mandatory for large- and medium-sized companies so grid operators can better monitor how power is being used and when to augment supplies with electricity from renewable sources.
The proposal by the Economy Ministry also wants to make it easier to put those digital meters into households, according to a paper seen by Bloomberg News. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government is aiming for parliamentary approval in the first quarter of next year.
Developing Renewable Energy in Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had far-reaching impacts on the global energy system. In Ukraine, a very different energy crisis is unfolding as Russia has directly targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with waves of missile attacks, leaving the power grid severely damaged. These attacks have led to rolling blackouts across the country, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Rebuilding Ukraine’s energy system will be essential to enabling both broader reconstruction efforts and the return of economic activity. There are two principles that should guide efforts to rebuild Ukraine’s energy system: (1) ensuring energy security and independence, and (2) deepening the connection and economic relationship between Ukraine and the European Union. To accomplish both, Ukraine should develop its potential renewable energy resources. Renewable energy, including wind, solar, and biomass, are abundant in Ukraine. Developing these resources will support domestic power generation, thereby bolstering Ukraine’s energy security and independence. Ukraine has ample potential to become an energy exporter after the war, thereby supporting the European Union’s decarbonization and energy security goals.
World Energy Transitions Outlook 2022
In 2022, the need for the energy transition has become even more urgent.
Compounding crises underscore the pressing need to accelerate the global energy transition. Events of recent years have accentuated the cost to the global economy of a centralised energy system highly dependent on fossil fuels. Oil and gas prices are soaring to new highs, with the crisis in Ukraine bringing new levels of concern and uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to hamper recovery efforts, while citizens worldwide worry about the affordability of their energy bills. At the same time, the impacts of humancaused climate change are increasingly evident around the globe. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that between 3.3 and 3.6 billion people already live in settings highly vulnerable to climate change.
Europe’s smart electricity meter penetration reaches 56%
Smart meter penetration in Europe is expected to reach 56% by year-end, Berg Insight has reported in its latest annual update.
This corresponds to the deployment of about 9.2 million meters across the region, the EU27+3, during the year taking the total from 163 million units at the end of 2021 to over 172 million by the end of 2022.
UPCOMING EVENTS
DISTRIBUTECH International, San Diego, USA, 7-9 February 2023
India Smart Utility Week (ISUW), New Delhi, India, 1-4 March 2023
Smart Energy Indonesia 2023, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2-4 March 2023
Africa Energy Indaba Conference & Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, 7-9 March 2023
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-16 March 2023
SGTech Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-24 March 2023
SMARTGREENS 2023, Prague, Czech Republic, 26-28 April, 2023
World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8-10 May, 2023
World Energy Storage Exhibition & Forum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 10-11 May, 2023
SGF-Cybersecurity Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-19 May, 2023
EM-Power Europe 2023, Munich, Germany, 14-16 June 2023 (exhibition), 13-14 June 2023 (conference)
Nov2022
MEMBER NEWS
OSGP Alliance playing active role in Central European Energy Conference CEEC XVI) in Bratislava
Mark Ossel, Member of the Board, OSGP Alliance chaired the panel “The changing role of the Smart Grid: Effective new approach to grid management, making full use of smart grids and smart technologies.” at the 16th CEEC conference.
This prestigious conference, attended by the Slovakian Prime Mininister PM and various ministers from Central Europe and Ukraine discussed the issue of energy security in the light of the need to get rid of dependence on energy supplies from Russia. The conference discussed the measures that could be done to decrease the dependence on Russia, while not abandoning the EU climate goals. The conference, and specifically the OSGP Panel, addressed the possibilities of developing smart grids and smart metering to support the energy transition. Other topics discussed were the hydrogen infrastructure, usage of waste and circular economy, energy efficiency in buildings and changes of ETS in industry sector. Traditional Central European regional format of the conference has been expanded with Ukraine and participation of their representatives and stakeholders .
Vattenfall in premiere project with fast chargers for Danish city buses
Vattenfall has delivered 32 fast chargers to Tide Bus in Denmark’s fifth largest city, Vejle. The delivery is Vattenfall’s first Power-as-a-Service project for passenger transport in Denmark and means that electric buses are now running in the city. The project will be followed by more.
For some weeks now, electric buses have been rolling every day in the streets of the Danish city of Vejle. The buses are operated by Tide Bus – one of Denmark’s largest bus companies. Vattenfall is responsible for both the charging solution and the purchase and supply of electricity. Vattenfall has invested in, designed and constructed the electrical infrastructure and is now operating it.
Improving congestion management on the Dutch grid
Maarten Hofs of Stedin BV and Ron van den Berg from Alliander N.V. talked with Yusuf Latief about flexible ways of managing the grid, a new platform for solving congestion problems that will be announced at Enlit Europe and their experience of the energy industry.
Maarten, an Enterprise/Business Architect, and Ron, a Program Manager, took time from their busy schedules during an extremely busy time for the Dutch grid operators to share their thoughts on the grid situation and talk about the GOPACS platform, which aims to relieve the grid of congestion, a pressing issue of late in the Netherlands.
E.ON Launches Digital Business to Manage Grid Complexity
With the new company, E.ON aims to bring together digital solutions for utilities to enable the energy sector to make grids smart and allow energy consumption to become more sustainable.
Victoria Ossadnik, member of the E.ON board of management responsible for digitalisation, said regarding the new company: “The energy transition is more urgent than ever and digital solutions are one of the main answers to the growing complexity of the energy system. Millions of households, their appliances and businesses need to be connected to the power grid in an increasingly decentralised energy system.
Over 4.1 GW of RES capacity has already been connected by TAURON to its network
In total, 683 large RES installations with a capacity of 1.314 GW and over 370 thousand micro-installations with a total capacity of 2,819 GW. In the first three quarters, TAURON connected to the distribution network 80 large RES installations with a total capacity of 107 MW and over 93,000 micro-installations with a capacity of 786 MW.
- We are expanding and modernizing distribution networks, investing about PLN 2 billion annually. However, the development of renewable energy sources exceeds the forecasts in this respect many times, and the existing power grid was not designed and built with such needs in mind, explains Paweł Szczeszek, CEO of TAURON Group. - Currently, its modernization and adaptation requires increasing financial outlays and is necessary for the development of renewable energy in Poland - adds Szczeszek.
Boost energy efficiency to tackle climate change, says Schneider Electric
There needs to be more of a focus on less exciting parts of the green transition such as energy efficiency, if countries are to meet their net zero goals, argued a leading analyst at energy specialist Schneider Electric.
Olivier Blum, executive vice president of energy management, told City A.M. enhancing the efficiency of existing buildings was essential to meeting net zero goals over the next three decades – with most Western countries reaffirming the target at COP 27 in Egypt this week.
PRESS RELEASE
OSGP Alliance Becomes CEN-CENELEC LIAISON
CEN-CENELEC/JTC-13 Approved the OSGP Alliance as an official Liaison for their Technical Bodies in the development of standards or other technical deliverables.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 17 November 2022: The OSGP Alliance, a global non-profit association dedicated to promoting the adoption of the Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) and infrastructure for smart grid applications towards a future proof modern smart grid, is pleased to announce that the CEN-CENELEC/JTC 13 recently approved the Liaison participation of the OSGP Alliance.
The approval enables the OSGP Alliance to support the CEN-CENELEC Technical Bodies work associated with the development of standards or other technical deliverables. This includes their efforts related to Cybersecurity and Data Protection. The OSGP Alliance was selected because of its recognized expertise in areas of Smart Grid, Smart Metering, Cybersecurity, and Data Protection.
MARKET NEWS
World Energy Outlook 2022. Executive summary
The world is in a critical decade for delivering a more secure, sustainable and affordable energy system – the potential for faster progress is enormous if strong action is taken immediately. Investments in clean electricity and electrification, along with expanded and modernised grids, offer clear and cost-effective opportunities to cut emissions more rapidly while bringing electricity costs down from their current highs.
Today’s growth rates for deployment of solar PV, wind, EVs and batteries, if maintained, would lead to a much faster transformation than projected in the STEPS, although this would require supportive policies not just in the leading markets for these technologies but across the world. By 2030, if countries deliver on their climate pledges, every second car sold in the European Union, China and the United States is electric.
Spain: EIB and Endesa sign a new credit line of sustainable financing for €250 million to boost the modernisation of distribution networks
Endesa and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are taking a new step in sustainable financing to boost the energy transition. EIB Vice-President, Ricardo Mourinho Félix, and Endesa Chief Financial Officer Luca Passa signed today a EUR 250 million loan in Madrid to finance the investments that e-distribución, Endesa's networks subsidiary, will make during the 2022-2024 period in the improvement, modernisation and expansion of electricity distribution networks.
This is the first sustainable loan granted by the EU Bank to finance distribution networks in Spain, which links the financial conditions to a corporate direct emissions reduction target (GHG scope 1).
EU electricity market transformation is underway: meet the independent aggregators
On return from work, one checks the smart meter to see when it’s best to charge the electric car, switch on the dishwasher or activate the battery storage to save the potential extra electricity produced by the rooftop solar panels. The flexibility in electricity use gets rewarded by a lower energy bill.
At the same time, this willingness to modify consumption ensures the grid can cope with increasing share of weather-depending renewable electricity, either during abundant or lowered power generation. It also means parting ways with electricity from fossil fuels, reducing emissions and getting closer to EU’s climate targets.
The Future is Now: How the Next-Gen Data Center Optimizes Energy Use for Increased Sustainability
Look around: data is everywhere, and we’re all dependent on it. Accordingly, global data center capacity continues to grow at an exponential rate — a pace that is stressing the electrical grid. Various estimates for the global energy consumption in data centers range from 1% to 2% of the world’s energy consumption. This figure translates to around 900 terawatt hours annually and approximately .3% of overall carbon or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
This level of data center capacity constitutes the here and now. Think about the near-term growth fueled by the rapid acceleration of digital transformation. Nearly every industry – finance, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, education, government – is fast-adopting digital technology and customer-facing digital experiences to build or pivot, sustain, and grow their business. As we know, digital technology is inextricable from compute, network, and storage — not to mention the internet of things (IoT) and applications that can be used or accessed at any time, from anywhere. When you add mobile devices to the above data center GHG at .3%, this number grows to almost 2% of the world’s GHG!
Assam to install smart electric meters in households
Guwahati: Assam will have smart electric meters installed in almost every household across the state to minimise energy loss, officials said on Wednesday.
The deadline for completion of the project has been fixed at March 31, 2025. The state government will spend nearly Rs 4,500 crore on this project.
Digitised smart energy networks could save billions in energy costs across the Midlands
The report, Smart Energy – An Energy System for the 21st Century, was co-authored by the Midlands Engine partnership, Siemens and the University of Birmingham. It calls for the accelerated digitisation of regional energy systems to usher in significant domestic energy savings, job creation, and support for the continued rollout of cheap, clean energy sources.
Smart energy systems can include ‘microgrids’, electric vehicles and smart meters, and would use digital technologies and artificial intelligence to balance energy needs across a network.
UPCOMING EVENTS
3rd Annual Africa Solar and Energy Storage Forum, Virtual Event, 29-30 November 2022
Enlit Europe 2022, Frankfurt, Germany, 29 November - 1 December 2022
DISTRIBUTECH International, San Diego, USA, 7-9 February 2023
Africa Energy Indaba Conference & Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, 7-9 March 2023
Future of Utilities: Energy Transition Summit 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-16 March 2023
SGTech Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-24 March 2023
SMARTGREENS 2023, Prague, Czech Republic, 26-28 April, 2023
World Utilities Congress, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 8-10 May 2023
World Energy Storage Exhibition & Forum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 10-11 May, 2023
SGF-Cybersecurity Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 15-19 May, 2023
Oct2022
MEMBER NEWS
Energy Transitions Podcast: Optimising smart meter installations and project execution
In this episode of the Energy Transitions Podcast Series, experts from Networked Energy Services and Griffin Group take a close look at how to effectively optimise smart meter installations and project execution using various processes and tools.
Guest experts focus on how the features of a smart metering system can support two diverse but common use cases facing utilities – the optimisation of a smart metering deployment and outage recovery after an extreme weather event, with examples from a utility smart meter rollout in Poland and the restoration of power following hurricane damage in Puerto Rico.
Poland’s Tauron mulls technology for next phase of smart meter rollout
Krakow-headquartered DSO Tauron Dystrybucja has reported the rollout of smart meters to over 950,000 customers.
By 2031 it is envisaged that all of the company’s energy consumers will be billed via remote reading, but the question on executives’ minds is what technology should be employed for the next phase of the rollout.
Grupa Apator is updating the business strategy
The updated strategy is based on the existing foundation of Grupa Apator built on the basis of high engineering competences, thanks to which Apator provides advanced technical solutions in the area of key media management for clients from the utilities sector and now extends the offer with new clients.
- Strategic plan for Grupa Apator until 2025 was created in a very unusual and full of turbulence, and therefore not easy for the economy period. On the one hand, it is a macro-environment characterized by difficulties that business did not have to face three, ten or twenty years ago, on the other hand, the progressing trends create new market opportunities for us, and also allow us to strengthen in existing areas. We see attractive sources of income in our traditional business areas. We are already participating in roll-outs of smart meters in Poland and we are prepared for further orders, we also intend to increase the sales scale of our innovative ultrasonic water meters. We will use production capacity more widely in contract production, thanks to which we will reach completely new customers and geographic regions. Our largest ever contract for the supply of gas meters of our own design to the Belgian market is also entering the implementation phase - says Arkadiusz Chmielewski, President of the Management Board of Apator SA.
Joint project by Linz AG and Pappas
A joint energy efficiency and climate protection project by Linz-Energieservice GmbH and Pappas Automobilvertriebs GmbH brought the car dealer energy independence and savings in CO2 emissions.
LINZ. In order to put a stop to the current energy and climate crisis, sustainable activities are needed in industry and business. Significant changes are also necessary in traffic and this is how cooperation between Linz-Energieservice (LES) and Pappas Automobilvertriebs GmbH came about. In the past year and a half, a joint energy efficiency project has been implemented at the two Pappas locations in Linz and Regau.
Andel is ready with DKK 90 billion for a green transition and increased security of supply
The energy and fiber network group Andel is speeding up its investments towards 2035. A double-digit billion amount has been set aside for increased investments in the basic business and production of renewable energy. Investments to ensure that Denmark becomes independent of Russian natural gas and increase security of supply nationally.
Over the past two years, Andel has gone through an extensive integration phase following the purchase of Radius Elnet and Ørsted's Danish private customer and outdoor lighting business and a majority ownership of Energi Danmark.
Eltel and Nordkysten will together expand the electricity network in Zealand for Nexel at an estimated value of DKK 717 million.
The contract between NKEL and Andels' operating company Nexel runs for the next 5 years, with the possibility of annual options for 3 additional years. The framework agreement is an extension of an earlier framework agreement, but will include both additional areas in Zealand and additional tasks, such as power grid reinforcements and customer connections.
According to Director of Eltel Denmark, Claus Metzsch Jensen, it is gratifying that Eltel and Nordkysten will now together take on the task of future-proofing the electricity grid in Copenhagen and large parts of Zealand. According to the director, electricity infrastructure projects like this will pave the way for a far more electrified society, where we will make use of greener energy sources to a greater extent than today.
MARKET NEWS
Commission sets out actions to digitalise the energy sector to improve efficiency and renewables integration
The European Green Deal and the REPowerEU Plan require a deep transformation of our energy system, which needs to become more interactive and smarter to help consumers embrace the benefits of the green transition. Today, the Commission is presenting an Action Plan highlighting how new technologies can help improve the efficient use of energy resources, facilitate the integration of renewables into the grid, and save costs for EU consumers and energy companies.
The Commission is setting out actions to boost data sharing, promote investments in digital electricity infrastructure, ensure benefits for consumers and strengthen cybersecurity. With data centres and the growing appetite for online services demanding ever more resources from our energy system, today's plan also outlines ways to decouple the energy footprint of the ICT sector from the exponential growth of data.The green and digital transition must go hand in hand.
Spain: Iberdrola and EIB sign a €220 million green loan top-up to boost smart grids
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Iberdrola have agreed to increase the green loan signed in 2021 to support the development, modernisation and digitisation of the company's electricity distribution networks, a project with an impact on twelve Spanish regions. The €220 million top-up signed today brings the total EIB financing to around €820 million, allocated to strengthen smart grids in Spain and contribute to the further electrification of the economy. The project linked to the loan will improve the efficiency of the distribution network, characterised by automation and control.
With this loan, Iberdrola will boost recovery of the Spanish economy and employment by safeguarding around 10,000 jobs a year in Spain during the implementation period, according to the EIB's estimates. This loan supports the EU Bank's regional cohesion and development objectives, which give priority to promoting projects in less developed regions with a per capita gross domestic product (GDP) below the EU average. In this respect, 68% of the i-DE plan contemplated in this agreement is being developed in those Spanish regions.
Romania secures €420m+ for massive grid overhaul
Contracts have been signed valuing €424.4 million ($411.8 million) for nine projects to oversee the digitisation and modernisation of Romania’s transmission network and power grid.
The contracts were signed yesterday between the country’s Ministry of Energy and the national electric power transport company, Transelectrica SA.
India – 5 Million Smart Meter Milestone
The five million smart meter milestone was passed in India on the last day of September, according to National Smart Grid Mission statistics.
Of these just over 1.2 million are smart prepaid meters.
Behavioural role of smart meters in demand relief
Even as Africa bands together to find solutions to the global energy crises, great emphasis is placed on increasing energy supply. But, less time and research is spent on creating effective ways to temper energy demand or promote sustainable energy consumption.
African presidents have met to discuss affordable, relevant, clean and energy-efficient fuel alternatives to boost the continent’s generation capacity and address Africa’s widening energy deficit.
The Time Is Now: Stepping Up Cyber Security for the Energy Sector
The recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act will incentivize a new wave of investment in energy infrastructure. With that wave, we have an opportunity to build cybersecurity approaches that keep up with the energy transition.
Nearly all energy infrastructure from today forward will be digitally managed. Optimizing for efficiency minimizes emissions and costs simultaneously – a powerful combination that answers both business and climate needs. Retrofits, renewables, and future business models will rely on networked digital devices to manage and operate physical energy assets.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Egypt Energy, Egypt International Exhibition Centre, 30 October - 1 November 2022
ADIPEC 2022, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 31 October - 3 November 2022
ASEAN M&E 2022, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7-9 November 2022
Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona, Spain, 15-17 November 2022
Central European Energy Conference 2022, Bratislava, Slovakia, 21 November 2022
Future of Utilities Summit, London, UK, 21-22 November 2022
3rd Annual Africa Solar and Energy Storage Forum, Virtual Event, 29-30 November 2022
DISTRIBUTECH International, San Diego, USA, 7-9 February 2023
Energy Indaba Conference & Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, 7-9 March 2023
SGTech Week 2023, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 20-24 March 2023
SMARTGREENS 2023, Prague, Czech Republic, 26-28 April, 2023
World Energy Storage Exhibition & Forum, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 10-11 May, 2023
Sep2022
MEMBER NEWS
Networked Energy Services Received Official METAS Data Security Certification
San Jose, CA, September 19, 2022: Networked Energy Services Corporation (NES), a global smart grid solution provider with the industry’s leading Energy Applications Platform (EAPTM), is excited to announce the official final data security certification according to article 8b of the Swiss StromVV (Electricity Supply Ordinance) for the NES AMI and Smart Grid platform and all of its Smart Grid components including residential electricity smart meters, Data Concentrators, and the Head-End System Software.
NES received its preliminary METAS certification approval earlier this year. With this important step of obtaining the official certification, it confirms that NES provides a comprehensive end-to-end Smart Grid solution that not only satisfies current data security requirements but can also dynamically react to potential cyber security threats in the future.
Alliander raises another 500 million euros with green bond loan
Network company Alliander has successfully issued a green bond for the third time. The parent company of grid operator Liander has raised 500 million euros through the Green Bond.
The capital is used to finance investments in the electricity grid. In recent years, the network company has raised 1.7 billion euros with the 3 green bond loans.
TAURON supports school electrical laboratories
TAURON has equipped secondary vocational schools from Głogów, Legnica and Lubin with specialist measuring equipment, cables and parts of power installations. All this as part of many years of cooperation with schools. This is the company's contribution to the education of future electricians and power engineers, some of whom will find employment in the distribution of electricity in the region.
For several years now, TAURON Dystrybucja has been carrying out activities related to the promotion of electric and energy professions. The company cooperates with 33 vocational secondary schools in its area and convinces young people that the work in the energy sector is interesting, necessary and prospective. 39 graduates of these schools were employed last year by TAURON Dystrybucja.
Driving the electrification of commercial vehicles: E.ON gears up for the future e-transport market
The energy company E.ON is focusing on the future market of e-transport. With the aim of significantly expanding its business with products, technologies and services for electric commercial vehicle fleets, E.ON has bundled its existing activities in a new organizational unit. By 2025, E.ON's e-mobility offering for electric charging of commercial vehicles is to be expanded to become the market leader in Europe under the name E.ON Drive eTransport.
Battery-powered commercial vehicles are still the exception. In contrast to the passenger car market, the transport sector today is only at the beginning of its development towards emission-free mobility. But the interest of companies and municipalities in electrifying their fleets is growing. In view of the climate targets, increasing freight transport and the growth of electric drives in local and long-distance public transport, the challenges of charging infrastructure, land use and grid connection are also becoming increasingly demanding.
Sheep and panels - the first solar park will be connected to Caruna's electricity grid in Kemiönsaari
The electricity distribution company Caruna and Ruda Solpark Ab have signed an agreement to connect the solar power park to the electricity grid in Kemiönsaari. Solar park is a shared use park - in addition to the panels, sheep graze in the field. The panels are placed in such a way that the sheep cannot knock them over and they do not harm the animals.
The Kemiönsaari solar power plant will be built on a field area where 3,600 solar panels will be placed. In the future, the purpose of the solar power plant is to produce 1.98MWp of electricity and sell it to the contract partner Caruna's network.
Eltel signs a frame agreement in Finland worth about EUR 75 million
Eltel Finland has signed a frame agreement with Caruna, a Finnish energy company, to ensure a reliable power distribution. The three-year frame agreement includes two additional option years and is worth about EUR 75 million.
The frame agreement is based on a geographical model where Eltel is responsible for field services for Caruna’s end customers, distribution network fault repairs as well as maintenance and construction works in awarded municipalities.
MARKET NEWS
Ed’s Note: First official mention of blackouts
It comes from Greece, where the local media mentioned that electricity for all might not be a given during peak hours, while small duration blackouts could become the new normal.
Although the Greek minister of energy, Kostas Skrekas, mentioned recently that the possibility of a blackout is very small, the fact remains that the mandatory 5% cut from the EU Commission forces hands. And it seems like Greece is picking up responsibilities fast. Kind of feel proud here, I won’t lie.
EU Proposes Strict Cybersecurity Rules for Digital-Product Makers
Companies that make digital devices and software will need to prove they fulfill basic cybersecurity requirements under a new European proposal intended to reduce hacking risks in a range of products, from home appliances and wearable devices to software and computers.
The draft legislation introduced Thursday also requires manufacturers that do business in the European Union to provide security patches and updates for the product’s lifetime or five years after going to market, whichever is shorter. Companies that break the rules would face fines of up to 15 million euros, equivalent to $15 million, or 2.5% of global revenue.
Project CARMEN: joint Romania-Hungary smart grid
The Carpathian Modernised Energy Network (CARMEN) smart grid project is up for funding from the Connecting Europe Facility programme.
The project, led by Romanian electricity and gas distribution operator Delgaz Grid and the transmission operator CNTEE Transelectrica in partnership with the Hungarian TSO Magyar Villamosenergia-ipari Átviteli Resdzerszártós (MAVIR), is eligible as one of the European Commission’s ‘projects of common interest’.
Smart meters are being installed in Odesa
Odessa energy company is planning to install almost 16,000 smart electricity meters in customers' homes by the end of 2022
Despite the difficult situation in the country due to the state of war, Odessa energy companies resumed the installation of smart metering devices in the homes of customers. New electric meters are multi-zone and help to save on electricity. They are installed instead of old ones that have reached the end of their service life. In total, in 2022, Odesa residents and residents of the region will receive 15,877 new modern meters.
Elia uses battery-powered virtual power plant for grid balancing
Elia has announced use of battery technology from Smart E-Grid, developed by renewable tech developer Opteco, to connect consumers’ energy in what they tout as one of the largest battery-powered virtual power plants (VPPs).
The TSO has stated how the VPP enables over 2000 families in Flanders to help maintain the balance in the Belgian electricity grid through their home battery.
Biden-Harris Administration Launches $10.5 Billion Investment to Strengthen America’s Electric Grid
WASHINGTON, D.C.— The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on the $10.5 billion Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership Program to enhance the resilience and reliability of America’s electric grid. The RFI seeks information from states, Tribes, communities, utilities, project developers, and other key stakeholders to help refine the funding opportunity announcement that will be made later this year and to guide the implementation of the funding over five years to enhance the electric grid in support of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These programs will accelerate the deployment of transformative projects that will help to ensure the reliability of the power sector’s infrastructure, so all American communities have access to affordable, reliable, clean electricity anytime, anywhere while helping deliver on the President’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.
“DOE is moving quickly to upgrade the nation’s power grid in order to provide American households with more reliable and affordable electricity that comes from a more diverse set of clean energy sources,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing in improving and expanding transmission and distribution systems across the country, driving down energy costs and generating good-paying jobs.”
EU Proposes Strict Cybersecurity Rules for Digital-Product Makers
Companies that make digital devices and software will need to prove they fulfill basic cybersecurity requirements under a new European proposal intended to reduce hacking risks in a range of products, from home appliances and wearable devices to software and computers.
The draft legislation introduced Thursday also requires manufacturers that do business in the European Union to provide security patches and updates for the product’s lifetime or five years after going to market, whichever is shorter. Companies that break the rules would face fines of up to 15 million euros, equivalent to $15 million, or 2.5% of global revenue.
UPCOMING EVENTS
POWERGEN India & Indian Utility Week & DISTRIBUTECH India 2022, New Delhi, India, 12-14 October 2022
15th EIF World Energy Congress and Expo, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-14 October 2022
IEC 61850 Week, Cardiff, UK, 17-21 October 2022
Smart Energy World Summit, Lisbon, Portugal, 18-19 October 2022
African Energy Week (AEW), Cape Town, South Africa, 18-21 October 2022
Zambia Energy Summit, Lusaka, Zambia, 26-28 October 2022
Egypt Energy, Egypt International Exhibition Centre, 30 October - 1 November 2022
ADIPEC 2022, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 31 October - 3 November 2022
ASEAN M&E 2022, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7-9 November 2022
Smart City Expo World Congress, Barcelona, Spain, 15-17 November 2022
Central European Energy Conference 2022, Bratislava, Slovakia, 21 November 2022
Future of Utilities Summit, London, UK, 21-22 November 2022
3rd Annual Africa Solar and Energy Storage Forum, Virtual Event, 29-30 November 2022
DISTRIBUTECH International, San Diego, USA, 7-9 February 2023
SMARTGREENS 2023, Prague, Czech Republic, 26-28 April, 2023
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