Energy World July/August 2018

There’s more to electricity than generation and consumption – with transmission, distribution, data and control systems and related commercial arrangements forming the whole picture. Our first theme is those electricity systems, beginning with an article on innovation in data management and smart devices. We follow this with a piece that covers grid stability – how this is being maintained in the face of increased quantities of variable generation. Two further articles cover the prospects for the supply of particular minerals used in some renewables and battery technologies; and moves across Europe to ‘pull the plug’ on coal-fired generation. The second feature covers energy management and purchasing from the consumer's end – how to manage today’s increasingly complex, sometimes volatile, energy markets and associated risks. We also get the benefit of one experienced energy manager’s views on staying ahead of the curve.

Finally we include two articles from the EI itself – the last in our series of pieces from Young Professionals Networks and a report on this year’s EI Energy Barometer results; plus the winners of this year’s international Ashden Awards.