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WELCOME TO THE AUGUST EDITION

OUR CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR’S LETTER

WE HAVE SO MUCH IGEM news to tell
SIMEN ELDEVIK you that we could barely fit it all into this
Principal Research Scientist, edition. We welcomed a new President,
DNV GL – Group Technology had a ball at the Gas Industry Awards,
and Research, Oil & Gas crowned our YPPC winner and elected a
Simen is a scientist motivated bunch of fresh faces (and a few familiar
by a desire to harvest the benefits of modern ones) to chair our Section committees.
machine learning (ML) and phenomenological It’s been a busy summer so far, but
knowledge to ensure semi- or fully-automated we’ve still managed to squeeze in some
decisions are inherently safe. As a physicist and top notch content for your delectation.
risk analyst, he works to bridge the gap between The level of within-day flexibility currently provided by the
data- and physics-based models to enhance the transmission and distribution networks presents the UK with a
trust and safety DNV GL delivers difficult challenge; how can we provide low-carbon flexibility to
to its customers. our future energy systems? UKERC’s Dr Grant Wilson and Dr Paul
Rowley have been analysing the flexibility of linepack using hourly
DR GRANT WILSON data and present their research in this edition.
UKERC Researcher A rise in stress levels at work is being linked to poor
Grant Wilson is a Lecturer in management, according to a new report from CIPD and
Chemical Engineering with Simplyhealth. Is your boss’s management style driving you to the
research interests in multi- edge of sanity? We look at the key ways in which stress impacts the
vector, multi-scale data analytics, and a modern workplace.
particular focus on the comparison of energy Ofgem has confirmed plans to slash returns for energy network
vectors over similar timeframes. Grant has companies. Here, we take a look at how the gas industry and other
published 14 research papers in scientific players have responded to the announcement.
journals as well several online pieces in The Finally, Simen Eldevik looks at the effect pure hydrogen could
Conversation. have on the existing transmission pipeline networks. Using
He is focused on the decarbonisation of new digital methods, DNV GL has been assessing the technical
heat as a significant challenge for Great uncertainties, a greater understanding of which can help inform
Britain, given its current use of natural gas to better policy choices and predict social acceptance.
provide the majority of its heat demand. This
multidisciplinary problem requires greater
research and innovation on the ability to shift
the timing of heat demand as well as reduce
average and peak demand.
He is also interested in innovations in
teaching and learning, and passionate about SHARON BAKER-HALLAM
the benefits of using empirical energy data in EDITOR
teaching and wider outreach on the challenges BA (HONS) AIGEM
of the energy transition. INSTITUTION OF GAS ENGINEERS AND MANAGERS (IGEM)

DR PAUL ROWLEY
UKERC Researcher
Paul’s research focuses on the
modelling and simulation of low
carbon energy systems under
uncertainty, together with the integration of
electrical and thermal energy storage systems.
He leads the Multi-scale Energy Systems
Analysis Group at the Centre for Renewable
Energy Systems Technology (CREST).
He is currently involved in the EPSRC-funded
WISE-PV, PV2025 and IDRIST projects, and TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
leads the ETI-sponsored Commercialisation of
Community Energy & Storage project. GOT SOMETHING you want to get off your chest? We’re always
His undergraduate and postgraduate teaching happy to hear any comments you might have about Gi. If you have an
duties include courses covering sustainability, opinion you want to share with us, email editor@igem.org.uk or write
energy system analysis, energy markets, to Editor Sharon Baker-Hallam at IGEM House, 26 & 28 High Street,
investment and risk. Kegworth, Derby DE74 2DA. The best letters and emails we receive
will be featured on this page.

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