PARTNER PROFILE ESB NETWORKS
• 2,400 MW of solar PV-based generation • 1,300 MW of energy storage and 2,500 MW of customer flexibility INNOVATION ROADMAPS As part of its innovation strategy, ESB Networks has designed eight roadmaps to continue to drive change. These roadmaps focus on connecting renewables, boosting customer engagement, further developing the electrification of heat and transport, optimising the current network infrastructure, creating flexibility within the network, making the network more resilient and driving operational excellence across the organisation. For customers directly, the Powercheck app and site will be upgraded, used over 2.8 million times by customers in its first three years. From 2011 to 2015, ESB Networks resolved 1,480,487 call centre calls, with 89.98 per cent of these calls answered within 20 seconds. ESB Networks keeps customers at the heart of its work and the innovation strategy will only enhance the service provision for customers. Smart meters will mean an end to over 8.7 million meter readings every year, using technology to improve the offering for customers and to empower customers to better manage their energy use. With housing and demographic changes, ESB Networks expects the need for new connections to rise by 70 per cent over the lifetime of the innovation strategy. The innovation strategy also includes initiatives that will assist ESB Networks in servicing large customers like data centres, which have a very specific energy requirement and which are a key sector for Ireland. Throughout its previous five-year strategy, ESB Networks restored power to 14.1 million customers, managing 36 storm days and dispatching 165,953 crews. In October 2017, Storm Ophelia, Ireland’s worst storm in 50 years, saw ESB Networks deploy the most InBUSINESS | YEARBOOK 2018
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high-tech response to a storm in Ireland ever – enabling “ESB crews to repair the NETWORKS network after it had IS WORKING experienced five times TO ENSURE more damage from THAT fallen trees than ever IRELAND before in Ireland. The HAS A move to a self-healing RELIABLE AND network will speed up EFFICIENT ESB Networks’ ability to respond, making this ENERGY even more efficient and NETWORK.” customer-friendly. To achieve this, the innovation strategy includes investment in state-of-the-art control centres in Dublin and Cork; investment in line sensors, fibre infrastructure, fault indicators, drones, augmented reality and 3D laser scanning to help control the network and repair faults remotely. HOW IT WILL BE DONE “For over 90 years, and through rural electrification, ESB has used advanced technology and innovation to provide Irish customers with a world-class electricity service,” says Marguerite Sayers, Managing Director of ESB Networks. “The launch of ESB Networks’ innovation strategy simply continues that history – ensuring that we continue to innovate to support Ireland’s changing energy needs. “With these eight roadmaps, ESB Networks has outlined how we are delivering for Irish people
the electricity network for the future. How electricity is produced and consumed is fundamentally changing and we need to adapt to those changes. The challenge for us is to integrate increasing amounts of renewable generation on to the distribution system and also to support the electrification of heat and transport – both of which are fundamental to meeting our national carbon emission target.” Sayers stresses that safety standards and delivering value, service and reliability to customers must be maintained throughout the process. “We are undertaking a whole suite of smart network research projects and trials – some on our own and some with technology partners – to see how best we can facilitate all of the new demands on the network, at the least cost, and while also enhancing service levels,” she says. The implementation of the Innovation Strategy to 2020 will oversee a4.8 billion in capital and operational investment. ESB Networks employs over 3,200 people – from specialist network technicians on the frontline connecting, maintaining and repairing the electricity system for Ireland’s homes and businesses to engineers, data scientists and IT professionals utilising emerging technologies to create one of the world’s smartest and most resilient energy networks. For more information please visit www.esbnetworks.ie/innovation
Smart fault indicators on the ESB Network
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