Network Companies

Information, insight and support from energy experts:
consultancy for network companies

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“Network companies are facing new challenges that are threatening the status quo.

New loads on the network, a rapidly changing shape of the demand profiles, more engaged customers who are interacting in a different way, and a shift in the sort of loads, like renewables, that are on the network are all issues that need to be considered and planned for today.

We help our clients to understand the breadth of the challenge and provide deep insight into their potential future role.”

Andrew Turton, Head of Operations

Delta-EE is able to support both Electricity and Gas Distribution Network Operators with the difficult decisions they need to make as the energy market transitions from old energy to new energy. Network companies need to know when and where new demand and supply loads will appear and need visibility of the new energy stakeholders entering the market.

We help network companies understand and solve a wide range of challenges, from understanding the impact of the electrification of heat and EV charging on their networks (especially on low voltage networks), to identifying the role of new technologies and contributing to the understanding of how cross-sector use between gas and electricity can benefit networks. This includes options for flexibility and energy storage.

Our projects explore the transition from traditional network operators to system operators and support companies in understanding what future engagement with customers might look like, both within and beyond the current regulated frameworks.

We work with network companies to identify what business models will be important in the future and the role of network operators within them, support networks with their investment planning with forecasting and modelling, and help networks to navigate regulatory frameworks and the implications of them.

Case studies

The Freedom Project

As part of the team on The Freedom Project (Flexible Residential Energy Efficiency, Demand Optimisation & Management), a groundbreaking trial demonstration of hybrid heating systems in consumer homes, Delta-EE was commissioned to undertake modelling and customer research in order to inform a view of how likely hybrid heating systems would be to succeed in the future and the role of DNOs and GDNs in delivering this.

Domestic electric heating

A UK electricity network operator commissioned Delta-EE to develop load profiles for different types of domestic electric heating in different house types. This assessed the impact of electrification of domestic heat on their network and support them to identify the interventions that they could take on the demand side to mitigate any challenges.

Gas Network investment

A key networks association in Europe commissioned Delta-EE to support the investment decisions their gas network members need to make in the future. This included deep insight into the future of gas demand, peaks and number of connections in a significant European gas market, in order to develop a robust scenario for future uptake on which to base investment.

Gas Demand Forecasting

UK Electricity Transmission Network Owner and Gas Distribution Network Owner & Operator commissioned Delta-ee to build an energy demand forecasting tool. The tool forecasts the annual sales of heating appliances, converts this into the installed base of heating appliances, and then calculates the annual demand of gas and electricity. This tool was designed for the Gas Demand team to enable them to forecast gas (and electricity) demand under different scenarios in the residential sector in the UK out to 2035.