Whole system thinking and the wider adoption of smart technology to increase visibility will be needed if National Grid is to adapt to the challenges of rocketing increases in distribution level generation.

The UK will fail to achieve its targets for the adoption of ultra-low emission vehicles if the level of charging infrastructure and the skills base of the country’s technicians is not improved.

The European renewables lobby has leapt to the defence of the sector, warning that a withdrawal of priority dispatch for renewables would be counterproductive.

A hundred companies have now pledged to adopt 100% renewable electricity under The Climate Group’s RE100 initiative, marking a significant milestone for the scheme which three years ago had just 13 founding member companies.

Ofgem has said network operators should prepare for tougher price controls in the future just as a consumer watchdog lamented billions of pounds of profits it said were unjustified.

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has signed a five-year deal with DONG Energy to guarantee the energy it buys from the grid will come from renewable energy sources, as it announces plans to increase its own generation capabilities to supply 30% of its energy needs by 2019.

Dale Vince has said his company’s interest in obtaining seats on the board of rival Good Energy is down in part to ‘unjustifiable’ contracts exchanged between the supplier’s chief executive Juliet Davenport and her husband.

Aldi has revealed it is investigating battery storage and demand side response applications for its estate as it prepares to add solar panels to 50 more stores by the end of the year.

Two distribution network operators (DNOs) have applied to Ofgem for approval to invest £79 million in funding between them to boost their active management capabilities and counteract the challenges of increasing volumes of low-carbon technologies.

The government has thrown its weight behind vehicle-to-grid (V2G) by announcing £20 million would be available for a competition to further the development of the bi-directional electric vehicle charging technology.