As electricity systems around the world digitalise in order to transition to renewable energy sources, they become increasingly vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks. How do we address these cyber security vulnerabilities? Experts from Networked Energy Services (NES), OSGP Alliance and the Danish utility Cerius share their insights in this podcast episode.

Policymakers and utility operators are fighting a much-sophisticated battle in order to keep any potential threat far away from their systems and customers. Which are the most common threats and what is the new profile of your average cybercriminal? And more importantly, is your utility ready to prevent a cyberattack?

Our host, Smart Energy International editor and Enlit Europe content director, Areti Ntaradimou, speaks with:

Jon Wells | Chairman of the OSGP Alliance | Technical Committee

The OSGP is a global non-profit association dedicated to promoting the adoption of the Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) and infrastructure for smart grid applications towards a future proof modern smart grid. Jon has 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, moving into the similar industry of smart grid a 5 years ago. Through this time, Jon was involved in helping telecommunications network operators align to the relevant O&M standards, including TeleManagement Forum (TMF) and IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL). He can bring the experience of the telecommunications industry into the arena of smart grids, quickly drawing upon the parallels to assess opportunities for cost reduction, efficiency improvement and customer experience improvement through the application of standards and use this to develop relevant and practical business cases for DSOs. Jon has held director roles in technical consulting, business consulting, and business development and is currently VP of Customer Solutions for Networked Energy Services.

Emil Gurevitch | Senior Security Architect | Networked Energy Services (NES)

Emil is a member of the OSGP Alliance, the global non-profit association dedicated to the adoption of the Open Smart Grid Protocol. He helps promote, architect, and deploy secure smart grids. Emil has over 18 years of experience in identifying and remediating cybersecurity vulnerabilities in critical systems, most recently in power grids. Emil was Smart Grid Security Lead at a large utility in Europe, helped develop cryptographic security solutions at IBM, and holds an MSc in Computer Science specialising in Information Security. Today, he is Senior Security Architect at NES, where he helps develop secure Smart Grid products and threat detection solutions.

Bo Danielsen | Head of Metering and Installation | Cerius

Bo has been in the utility industry for the last 10 years working on the implementation and rollout of smart meters and relates headend and MDM systems. He has a technical background as a certified electrician and has been working in the industry for his entire 30 years career in different positions. He also holds a bachelor degree on the commercial and business side

Today, Bo serves as Head of Meters and Installations at th Danish utility Cerius and is responsible for 1,4 million meters together with the customers' support.

This podcast is brought to you in partnership with Networked Energy Services (NES).

More about cybersecurity

To learn more about defending the smart grid from cyber attacks in six steps, watch the below video and follow the link to find out more about software applications that can help you every step of the way.

"If we’re going to succeed in the energy transition, we have to bring every customer along with us," says Marzia Zafar, Head of Strategy and Policy at Kaluza. In this podcast episode, she shares her opinion about how we can move the industry forward, together.

From the Southern California Gas Company to the World Energy Council and from there to Kaluza, Marzia Zafar seems to have a holistic view regarding what makes the energy sector tick. And with a strong attitude towards the environment, equality issues and the role of the consumer, she is a prominent voice in the current debates.

Listen to the conversation between our host, Areti Ntaradimou, and Marzia Zafar about the human condition in the energy transition.

Don't forget to read more about Marzia Zafar in her 'Women in Energy' interview.

Guest:

Marzia Zafar | Head of Strategy and Policy | Kaluza

Host:

Areti Ntaradimou | Enlit Europe content director for data and editor Smart Energy International

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How could the use of AMI data assist in providing situational awareness to grid ops? Experts from OSIsoft and PowerRunner discuss this topic in detail in the latest podcast episode.

With more and more electric meters being replaced with smart meters on AMI, there is an increasingly big amount of data collected on a daily basis. One could call this a potential gold mine for utilities, but it is not easy to get operational value from the vast data collection. Data latency and the complexity of managing such a big data set are two issues that are holding utilities back from using the data insights to their full potential.

In this episode of the Smart Energy International podcast, our host Areti Ntaradimou speaks to Kevin Walsh (Industry Principal for Transmission and Distribution at OSIsoft, now part of AVEVA) and Dan Garvey (Director, Sales and Marketing at PowerRunner) about this issue and how their collaborative technology solution is providing situational awareness to grid operators.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with OSIsoft.

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The evolution of the energy sector over the past 25 years has surpassed every expectation and today, energy forms a key pillar of political and social strategies in many of the world’s economies. And given the continuous development and advancement of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, we can assume that the next 25 years are also going to surpass our wildest dreams.

The evolution of the energy sector over the past 25 years has surpassed every expectation and today, energy forms a key pillar of political and social strategies in many of the world’s economies. What are the milestones that got us where we are today?

This year, we celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Smart Energy International. Part of celebrating an important happening is taking a moment to reflect on the past. Therefore, our host Claire Volkwyn invited Areti Ntaradimou (Enlit Europe content director for data) and Kevin O'Donovan (technology evangelist) to discuss the important moments from the past 25 years in the energy sector in this episode of the Smart Energy International podcast.

How do you tackle the issue of last mile communication? Experts from the PRIME Alliance share their insights.

Power line communication (PLC) has long been considered the most suitable and natural technology to provide the needed telecoms performance, even in complex underground electricity grids. But what do you do when it’s not?

In this episode of the Smart Energy International podcast, experts from the PRIME Alliance will be exploring the PRIME Hybrid solution that combines PLC and RF communication technology.

The Prime Alliance is an Alliance of technology manufacturers and utilities focussing on providing technology solutions for the smart grids utilising an open (license free), interoperable (certification), reliable (proven) communication protocol.

PRIME Alliance members Alfredo Sanz (Technical Fellow on Smart Energy Systems and software - Microchip Technology) and Asier Llano (R&D Manager - ZIV Automation) talk about this next step in the PRIME Alliance journey.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with PRIME Alliance.

Guests:

• Alfredo Sanz | Technical Fellow on Smart Energy Systems | Microchip Technology
• Asier Llano | R&D Manager | ZIV Automation PRIME Alliance journey.

Host:

• Claire Volkwyn | Editor | Smart Energy International

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In this episode, Claire Volkwyn speaks to Meters and More general manager, Carlo Maria Drago and Alessandro Lasciandare, technical expert and member of two of the Association’s working groups.

The conversation includes the evolution of the Meters and More standard, explores the reasons for the Associations creation, the celebration of a major milestone and touches on the focus areas for 2021 and beyond.

Meters and More is a leading, open solution for smart metering and other applications used in completed and on-going rollouts.  It is supported by over 40 leading member organizations. Worldwide, over 40 million smart meters are operated using Meters & More technology. 

Do you know what it is that your customers think about energy consumption, smart home technology, or your service?

In this episode, Patty Durand, CEO of the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative answers questions about modern energy consumers following research launched late last year.

The SECC works to learn the wants and needs of energy consumers in North America, encourages the collaborative sharing of best practices in consumer engagement among industry stakeholders, and educates the public about the benefits of smart energy and energy technology.

Durand speaks to us about consumer engagement in general and specifically during this time of COVID-19.

In this podcast episode, industry experts from the PRIME Alliance and Arkossa Smart Solutions discuss the secrets of reliable smart meter communication and the importance of industry standards.

The PRIME Alliance (PRIME = PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution) is focused on the development of a new open, public and non-proprietary telecom solution which will support not only smart metering functionalities but also progress towards the Smart Grid.

Power line communications is the most suitable and natural technology to provide the needed telecoms performance, even in complex underground electricity grids.

In this episode, we talk about the evolution to and from PRIME v1.4 and the improved reliability, robustness and frequency coverage that the new version delivers, as well as the interoperability brought to the table by PRIME+. 

In order to keep communication channels operating at optimal levels, PRIME Hybrid provide a combination of standardised PLC & RF/IoT solutions to increase robustness – how will this increased flexibility work to power the cities of the future along with the water, gas and power utilities of tomorrow?

Christos Aslanidis (Senior Principal Engineer at Renesas Electronics Europe and Board member PRIME Alliance) and Victor Dominguez (Chief Executive Officer, Arkossa Smart Solutions) talk about their experiences with the creation of industry standards and pushing the boundaries of smart meter communication.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with PRIME Alliance.

Guests:

Christos Aslanidis | Senior Principal Engineer at Renesas Electronics Europe | Board member PRIME Alliance

Victor Dominguez | Chief Executive Officer | Arkossa Smart Solutions

Host:

Claire Volkwyn | Editor| Smart Energy International

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Managing third-party vendor cyber risk is fast becoming the defining cybersecurity challenge of our time. The increase in the number of suppliers we engage with as the digitalisation of the energy sector progresses means that enterprise networks are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the vulnerabilities of those partners.

Put simply, the extended ecosystem is the threat.

Your host Claire Volkwyn speaks with Jim Penrose, former NSA senior leader and COO of New York City-based cybersecurity firm BlueVoyant. They discuss supply chain risk and its greater implications, the interdependence between organisations and how risk and cybersecurity risk management are interconnected.

Guest:

Jim Penrose | Chief Operations Officer | BlueVoyant

Host:

Claire Volkwyn | Editor| Smart Energy International

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The 2020 edition of this report is like no other as it’s based on insights from 2019 and 2020, which turned out to be two very different scenarios due to the pandemic. The key question that the report asks is: How can the energy sector balance the competing priorities of addressing the immediate challenge related to COVID-19 pandemic, and taking drastic steps against climate change at the same time?

To answer this question, your host Claire Volkwyn is joined by experts and main contributors to the report, Philippe Vié, Energy & Utilities Sector Head at Capgemini, and Colette Lewiner, Senior Energy Advisor to the Capgemini Chairman.

Together, they discuss the implications of the pandemic on the energy markets and practical ideas for how utilities, policymakers and private companies can embrace a strategy that builds short-term resiliency while improving long-term sustainability.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Capgemini.

Download the 2020 edition of the World Energy Markets Observatory.

Guests:

Philippe Vié | Energy & Utilities Sector Head | Capgemini

Colette Lewiner | Senior Energy Advisor to Capgemini Chairman | Capgemini

Host:

Claire Volkwyn | Editor| Smart Energy International

In this episode, our guest experts from the OSGP Alliance share their insights on how to implement the EU Clean Energy Package in the smart grid.

The EU Clean Energy Package is a key initiative in reducing the world’s reliance on fossil fuels and shape the strategy of European DSOs. The challenge is to invest in technology in the smart grid so that it becomes truly smart; providing the intelligence and capabilities that will be needed to drive towards the Clean Energy Package outcomes.

These outcomes include increased energy efficiency, a minimum 32% renewable energy in the energy mix, a robust governance system and a redesigned energy market among other things.

Claire Volkwyn, your host and editor of Smart Energy International, is joined by Mark Ossel, Board member, OSGP Alliance and Jon Wells, Chairman of the technical committee, OSGP Alliance to talk about how communication is vital to further these outcomes.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with the OSGP Alliance and Networked Energy Services (NES).

Guest:

Mark Ossel |Board member | OSGP Alliance

Jon Wells | Chairman of the technical committee | OSGP Alliance

Host:

Claire Volkwyn | Editor| Smart Energy International

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Related content:
Webinar recording: Protect, Detect and Respond: securing the smart grid

Listen also to:
#6: Accelerating smart metering with revolutionary IoT eSIM
#5: Simply Electrifying – How electricity continues to transform the world
#4: Digitalisation’s role in the utility of the future
#3: What a ’new normal’ will look like for the power sector

In this episode, Petri Ounila, Director of IoT Devices at Aidon and Francis D´Souza, VP Strategy & Marketing for Analytics and IoT Solutions at Thales discuss the latest industry breakthroughs in cellular connectivity. They focuss on how cellular innovations simplify daily operations for smart meter vendors, grid managers and DSOs. Most importantly, they will also share their experience with the new, revolutionary IoT eSIM.

Simply Electrifying is a book which covers the history of electricity from the perspective of the individuals that influenced its development and the amazing minds behind the technology we take for granted today. We asked Dr. Roach to highlight some of the key moments in the development of the energy sector and the stories behind the people involved.

Having worked with regulators as well as electric utilities and investors for more than four decades himself, Dr. Roach will not only share lessons from the past but also focus on how he believes the story will continue to play out.

Guest:
Dr. Craig R. Roach | Author | Simply Electrifying: The Technology that Transformed the World, from Benjamin Franklin to Elon Musk

Host:
Claire Volkwyn | Editor| Smart Energy International

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In this episode, Claire Volkwyn, editor of Smart Energy International, speaks with Mike Ballard, Vice President Industry Strategy at Oracle Utilities. They will discuss Oracle’s take on digitalisation, the impact of COVID-19 and why financial sustainability is so important for utilities in both developed and developing countries.

This episode it brought to you in partnership with Oracle Utilities.

Music by NSAT

Guests:

Philippe Vié | Global Energy, Utilities and Chemicals Sector Leader | Capgemini

Thorsten Heller | CEO | Greenbird

Jon Wells | Vice President of Customer Solutions | Networked Energy Services (NES)

In this episode of the Smart Energy International podcast, we will reflect on the past decade and discuss how the sector has grown from four perspectives: generation, innovation, communication and the consumer.

Join us as the editors from Smart Energy International, Power Engineering International, the event director of Enlit Europe and leader from Clarion Energy’s US office, share their experiences and insights, having walked the journey with the sector for the last ten years and more.

Guests:

Claire Volkwyn | Editor-at-large| Smart Energy International

Kelvin Ross | Head of Content Strategy for Enlit Europe and the editor-in-chief for Power Engineering International and Smart Energy International

Paddy Young |Event Director l Enlit Europe

Teresa Hansen |Vice President, Content l Clarion Energy

Host:

Philip Gordon | Staff writer Smart Energy International

EU 2019/944 will determine the rules shaping a new common electricity market within the EU, encouraging member states to support cross-border trade in electricity, facilitate consumer participation, sustain investments in flexible energy generation — including storage and electro-mobility — and improve interconnections among different national energy systems.
The provisions also require, among other things, electricity markets to be competitive and consumer-centred, while ensuring that electricity customers are free to purchase power from the supplier of their choice.

Regulation (EU) 2019/943 aims to set the ground rules for the future common electricity market, describing how a fair cross-border exchange in electricity should be conducted, while also setting the basic rules to encourage free price formation and more flexible generation and demand.

Central to the directive is the belief that it should "deliver appropriate investment incentives for generation, in particular for long-term investments in a decarbonised and sustainable electricity system, energy storage, energy efficiency and demand response to meet market needs."

Listen to the webinar, and join us as we explore the energy transition in Europe and how these directives are enabling a new energy dynamic.

Speakers

1. Roberto Zangrandi Secretary-General, E.DSO

2. Willem Strabbing, Managing Director, ESMIG

3. Laurent Schmitt, Secretary-General, ENTSO-E

At the same time, the United States has made its intention to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement known yet that country has also seen a significant commitment from leaders, cities and organisations to better, more efficient and climate-friendly energy usage and generation.

Increasing focus has been placed on the electrification of transport and heating; while digitalisation projects have been started by utilities in just about every country in the world. At the same time, cybersecurity has become both a focus and a concern. The European Union’s new energy package has come into effect and the full implications of Brexit as still be understood.

Join us as we discuss 2019 - a year in review and 2020 - predictions and trends.

Our panel of expert shared their keen insights into:

The most significant happenings of the year
Unexpected trends and 2019 predictions that never came true
2020 predictions - the frontrunners and the outliers
We cast an eye over the year that was, and consider the possibilities for the year ahead.

Speakers:

Thorsten Heller, CEO, Greenbird
Kevin O’Donovan, Technology evangelist
Jennifer Runyon, Content Director for DISTRIBUTECH
Areti Ntaradimou, Content Director for Enlit Europe.

 As we enter what is known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a time subject to disruptive technologies and trends such as IoT, robotics, virtual reality and AI – changing the way we live and work.

Do a Google search for utilities+talent and the results speak to the challenge of developing, maintaining and harnessing talent in the changing utility environment.

We spoke to utility companies and academia which are embracing the new dynamic, encouraging start-ups and young talent to challenge and disrupt the status quo and pursue a clean, secure and fair energy transition.

 During the webinar we will ask the following questions:

•  What needs to be done to encourage and harness young talent in an energy company environment?
• How can start-ups and energy companies work together to enhance and support each other’s work from a cultural and next-generation mindset perspective?
• ·What are the new skills that are going to be required in the sector in the next decade and how do we go about ensuring these skills are available when we need them?
• ·Is regulation keeping pace with the speed of development?
• How do we ensure the next-generation talent chooses the energy sector?

 Join us as we explore the talent requirements of the next millennium and the utilities, companies and organisations spearheading the delivery of these critical skills for the future.

Speakers:

• Dr. Tony Manninen, co-founder & CEO at game studio LudoCraft
• Marloes Wichink-Kruit. Human Capital Manager, InnoEnergy
• Pirjo Jantunen – Business Development Manager – Helen

Change is hard, and of course the agreement has had its own recent challenges, but it was interesting to see how these values were very much in focus at European Utility Week in Paris. In the opening keynote presentations, many of the speakers addressed the urgency for the Energy Transition, reflecting the industry’s awareness that change is not only here, it needs to accelerate.

Today, there are numerous challenges for the sector. In the keynote panel discussion, participants identified many, including infrastructure issues, growing complexity, affordability, cooperation from players within the industry and the increasing volumes of data utilities and their employees are now managing.

The city of Paris was a pioneer both of street lighting and new ideas; hence its nickname ‘The City of Light’. As the world’s energy community gathered in the city, will their discussions lead to the innovative ideas that will keep all our cities well lit and powered in a sustainable way for generations to come? 

This podcast originally aired on the Be Energized Podcast and was authorised to be hosted on our platform by Greenbird.

This podcast originally aired on the Be Energized Podcast and was authorised to be hosted on our platform by Greenbird.