BDC Magazine - Online version December 2015 Issue - 216 | Page 116

UKPN.qxp_feature 2 21/10/2015 10:40 Page 114

ENERGY, UTILITIES & RENEWABLES: UKPN

installing will make sure we can continue
delivering reliable electricity supplies in this
area for many years to come.”
As well as upgrading and replacing lines
at each level of the network, the company

“UK Power Networks is fully committed to
playing a key role in enabling the transition
to a low carbon future”

has made significant in-roads in the way of
innovation. With a view to further enhancing operability, and so facilitating the con-

in the most efficient way to its some 8 mil-

micro and macro level, UKPN's corporate

tinuation of its highly reliable electricity

lion customers. It's Stay Safe training pro-

responsibility is evident; the company has

provision, UKPN enlisted the help of solu-

gramme, in receipt of the much revered

championed initiatives to benefit the commu-

tions specialist, ADAS, and aerial photog-

Gold Award for Best Script at the

nity, the environment and its workforce, there-

raphy firm, Bluesky. It was through this col-

International

by maintaining its viability for the future.

laboration that the development of a plane

Awards (IVCA), is one such example of the

UKPN's Smarter Network Storage proj-

– able to map the electricity network aerial-

company's commitment to health and safe-

ect is another such example of the compa-

ly, and therefore identify problems in con-

ty. As Murdo Allan, Director of Health,

ny's pioneering status in the sector. In part-

nectivity and inform the development of

Safety,

nership

UKPN's tree-cutting programme – was

Training at UK Power Networks, com-

University, Swanbarton, Pöyry, National

made possible. The project, in which three

ments: “Safety is our top priority at all times

Grid, Imperial College London, Smartest

of the high-tech radar planes undertook an

so to receive external recognition for this

Energy and AMT SYBEX, and having

extensive survey of the East and South

campaign is good. But what matters most is

secured the financial backing of Ofgem's

East, was the first of its kind, and produced

that it has the impact on our employees, so

Low Carbon Networks Fund Second Tier

sophisticated and highly accurate data of

that all of us go home safely every day.”

competition, the company is addressing the

Visual

Sustainability

Communication

and

Technical

with

KiwiPower,

Durham

the region. Available via a 3D portal, the

UKPN also exhibit more than mere com-

often-costly economics of electricity storage.

collated data enabled the company's opera-

pliance to governmental regulation in respect

Its new storage solution facility, currently

tors to conduct 'virtual patrols', thereby

to sustainability. Its dynamic and pro-active

being

minimising both the time and risk ordinari-

approach to sourcing sustainable solutions

Bedfordshire, while making use of low car-

ly associated with on-site management.

trialled

in

Leighton

Buzzard,

saw the company, last year, have its

bon technologies, boasts a storage capacity

The safety of its staff remains paramount

Sustainability Report rated A+ under the

of 6MW. Ben Wilson, Director of Strategy

in UKPN's endeavour to supply electricity

Global Reporting Initiative guidelines. At a

and Regulation, and Chief Financial Officer,
stresses the imperative role sustainable solutions have in both the future of UKPN and
the electricity industry more generally,
asserting: “UK Power Networks is fully
committed to playing a key role in enabling
the transition to a low carbon future. The lessons learned from the project will be of significant value to all network operators as the
project will support the more efficient and
rapid adoption of storage, helping to accommodate more low carbon technologies and
reduce overall costs for consumers.”
Paving the way for DNOs to follow,
UKPN is company addressing the challenges
of the industry before they have chance to
occur. Driving investment at each point of its
services, it's a company which is sure to be
held in great esteem, with both its customers
and within the industry, in the years ahead.
www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk

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