Blog - Guest Blogs & Editorials

Grid stability is a challenge, but the UK is ahead of the curve

  • a day ago (2026-10-06)
  • Junior Isles

The UK has made a strong start with its infrastructure strategy to face grid stability challenges. However, it must build on this momentum and increase the speed of delivery of these projects, especially future grid stability programmes. 

By Tony O’Carroll, CEO at Conrad Energy

Back to the energy future: How WESA provides a time machine for energy trials

  • a day ago (2026-10-06)
  • Junior Isles

History is filled with confident predictions that were quickly overtaken by technological development and changing consumer behaviour. Predicting the energy system of the future presents a similar challenge, because technologies, consumer behaviour, market rules and physical infrastructure are all changing at the same time. Here, Claire Rowland, Senior Manager for the Living Lab and Whole Energy Systems Accelerator at Energy Systems Catapult, explains how WESA acts as a time machine for energy trials, allowing network operators to test plausible future conditions before they exist at scale.

Why AR8 is the ultimate test for Clean Power 2030

  • a month ago (2026-09-04)
  • Junior Isles

The biggest risk to the UK’s Clean Power 2030 is capacity that secures an allocation but fails to deliver, leaving build-ready projects stranded. The success of the UK’s Allocation Round 8 (AR8) for renewable capacity will therefore not be determined by the number of contracts awarded, but by the speed and scale of turning capacity on paper into projects and ultimately, generation on the grid.

By Angus Widdowson, Head of Generation, SmartestEnergy

The best-governed sector in recent survey keeps losing data anyway

  • a month ago (2026-08-18)
  • Junior Isles

Kiteworks' Data Security and Compliance Risk: 2026 Annual Survey Report measured security and AI governance maturity across more than 450 organisations in ten industries. Energy and utilities organisations recorded the second-highest Data Security Maturity Score of any sector. But leading a maturity index and stopping the next data breach are two different achievements.

By Frank Balonis, Field CISO at Kiteworks

Net zero needs more than renewable energy

  • a month ago (2026-08-17)
  • Junior Isles

Insurance alone cannot drive the transition, but specialist underwriting can help create the confidence needed for investment.

By Oli Williamson, Co-Founder and Chief Underwriting Officer, Aspect

AI is coming to Africa’s solar sector, but will it last?

  • 2 months ago (2026-07-28)
  • Junior Isles

Africa’s energy access challenge is not waiting for better AI; it is waiting for deployment discipline

By Somesh Utkar, Growth Specialist, applied AI deployments at Omdena

Can the US’s electricity investment supercycle be delivered at speed?

  • 2 months ago (2026-07-23)
  • Junior Isles

Value in the next phase of the US utility investment cycle will be determined by execution readiness, orchestration capability and speed to energisation. It will require utilities to manage capital delivery as one integrated system rather than as a collection of independent projects.
By Benoit Laclau, Global Energy & Infrastructure Leader at global consultancy, Newton

The smart grid revolution: Turning data, AI and human expertise into energy resilience

  • 2 months ago (2026-07-11)
  • Junior Isles

While the days of a fully autonomous grid are still a way in the future, the intelligent smart grid powered by Industrial AI, predictive analytics and an empowered workforce is very much here today. It’s taking energy and utilities far beyond simple decarbonisation goals – it’s improving reliability, affordability, and safety.

By Carol Johnston, VP Industries, Energy, Utilities, and Resources, IFS

Keeping the lights on: Critical national infrastructure longevity

  • 2 months ago (2026-07-10)
  • Junior Isles

Conflicts in Iran and Ukraine have reinforced the need for national energy security. And while the rapid increase in renewable energy has reduced the UK’s reliance on imported oil and gas, while also supporting Net Zero targets, it has also placed unprecedented pressure on critical national infrastructure. 

By Dr Benedikt Engel, CEO and Co-Founder, MatAlytics

The energy efficiency assessment that doesn't stop the line

  • 3 months ago (2026-07-07)
  • Junior Isles

Energy appraisals that work within existing data infrastructure, continuous digital monitoring that replaces periodic snapshots, and structured upgrade programs with clear payback timelines have removed most of the practical barriers that once made efficiency assessment feel risky or disruptive.

By Erich Labuda, President, Motion Services division, ABB