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Opinion

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Time to look beyond the price cap
Following Ofgem’s minded-to decision to introduce a quarterly price cap, Utility Week reporter Adam John believes it is time to start looking to a future that is not fixated on price and switching. From a relative cap to social tariffs, there are several options on the table to be considered. Failure to act is likely to result in more consumer woe.
Opinion
Network competition – the answer to yesterday’s question?
In her latest column for Utility Week, Maxine Frerk challenges the rationale for introducing competition in onshore networks. In a world where net zero and energy security are the top priorities, is it still the right direction?
Opinion
Energy security strategy: what comes next?
Maria Connolly, head of clean energy at law firm TLT, gives her thoughts on the government’s new energy security strategy released in response in response to soaring energy prices and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She says although the strategy provides some important signals to industry, there are still significant uncertainties, particularly when it comes to technologies like onshore wind, solar and hydrogen.
Opinion
How flexibility holds the key to unlocking a net zero future
Ben Godfrey, distribution system operator manager at Western Power Distribution, discusses the company’s efforts to “turbo-charge” the market for flexibility, including through its Flexible Power platform that been adopted by all but one of the distribution network operators in Great Britain and its Intraflex trial of continuous close-to-real-time trading.  
Opinion
The beauty of simplicity: making it easier to green Britain’s homes
Rebecca Teasdale, senior manager at Baringa, discusses the need to simplify the process for consumers to upgrade their homes for net zero, which she says will require a disparate industry to come together to provide with a “one-stop shop” experience.
Opinion
It’s time to fix the energy crisis before it’s too late
“Truly horrific” is how Scottish Power’s chief executive recently described the looming winter energy bill crisis. As such it’s time for a massive shift in policy and approach. Writing for Utility Week Keith Anderson says with the Queen’s Speech due in a few weeks’ time, the government must consider how to introduce a social tariff to protect those most in need.
Opinion
The storage question: Operability challenges in a net-zero system
The UK has committed to stretching targets on renewable generation. However, less attention has been given to the end state – the operation of a fully decarbonised energy system. In this article for Utility Week, Energy Systems Catapult’s Beth Warnock discusses the urgent need to find replacements for the stores of fossil fuels our energy system currently relies on.
Opinion
How technology is driving efficiency in offshore construction
Ian Dobson, associate director at engineering consultancy ByrneLooby, explains how the application of new technologies to offshore energy construction can help the sector to meet the latest target from the government’s energy security strategy to deploy 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.  
Opinion
Lessons from the Northern Ireland energy price crisis
With a small gas network and the absence of a price cap, many Northern Ireland consumers saw their energy costs double in a fortnight at the start of 2022. Peter McClenaghan, director of infrastructure and sustainability for the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, explains what impact this has had and the lessons for Great Britain’s energy market.
Opinion
A connected future
Nicola Medalova, of National Grid Ventures, writes for Utility Week about the vital role of North Sea wind in reducing the influence of Russian gas. She discusses the potential for multi-purpose interconnectors to maximise the deployment of renewable generation and speed up connections.
Opinion
A grand design to power our future
Former Ofgem head of data Steven Steer believes the next urgent challenge for the energy sector is learning how to architect a digitalised system. Steer believes the energy sector desperately needs a “premeditated and professionalised approach” which will set the direction and deliver the industry’s digitalisation ambitions.
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