The Germany energy company Innogy has joined the European Network for Cyber Security (ENCS).
The ENCS is a not-for-profit organisation that brings together various stakeholders in the energy market and security exports to create secure grids and infrastructure.
It already works with a wide variety of utilities across Europe and over the course of the next 12 months, it will be focusing on security policy, architecture and operations.
Innogy’s head of new technology, grid and infrastructure segment, Dr Andreas Breuer, said energy infrastructure is critical and is also facing a rising number of cyber-attacks
“This is why we seek the exchange of knowledge within the ENCS about possible counter-strategies, with the network having a clear focus on infrastructure-related business,” added Breuer.
ENCS’s managing director, Anjos Nijk, added: “Innogy is a unique company that can draw on the long-experience and heritage of its parent company while also being a new entity that is completely focused on our new energy world.
“As you’d expect from such a company, cyber security is at the forefront of its thinking. We’re confident Innogy will both get and add huge value to the network.”
The announcement comes a week after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) released a timetable for the second phase of its investigation into the planned merger between Innogy’s Npower and the retail arm of SSE.
A provisional decision, including any required remedies, will be revealed in mid-August.