Member Article

Utility Week™ Live to host EIC Innovation Zone

Utility Week™ Live incorporating IWEXis delighted to announce the industry-changing companies selected to take part in the new Innovation Zone next week (April 21-23 at the NEC, Birmingham).

The Innovation Zone, supported by the Energy Innovation Centre, is an exciting new feature (Stand F50, Utility Week™ Live inc. IWEX) that showcases nine trailblazing companies and their standout technology, products or services.

The chosen companies, which range from natural gas refueling appliances for cars and vans, to new and improved CO monitoring devices, were selected by the Energy Innovation Centre and will be presented in a dedicated area of the exhibition.

Amanda Barnes, publisher of Utility Week™ magazine and chief executive of show organiser Faversham House, said: “Innovation is critical for the future of utilities. Companies in the sector are constantly faced with new challenges, from increasing demand to changing generation and consumption patterns. We are delighted to celebrate a series of companies that are embracing technology and innovation in order to help utilities to keep the lights on, the taps running and the gas flowing.”

Lois Wiegand, commercial manager of the Energy Innovation Centre said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Innovation Zone at this year’s Utility Week™ Live inc. IWEX. This is an exciting opportunity for our growing innovation community to showcase their game-changing technologies and products to the utility sector.”

The Innovation Zone exhibitors

Gasfill

Gasfill has developed and manufactured a ‘personal’ home refuelling system ‘The gasfill 2000’ for cars and vans uses compressed natural gas (CNG) as a fuel rather than petrol.

CNG is one of a number of alternative fuels and the gasfill 2000 allows users to benefit from 60% lower fuel costs and clean vehicle emissions.

IVITI Lighting

IVITI Lighting are developers of innovative LED light bulb technology. One of its products - the IVITI ON light bulb - can stay on for up to three hours in the event of a power cut and is currently being piloted by three UK electricity distribution network operators.

Gnosys

For an electrical power distribution network to operate effectively, the cables supporting it need to be maintained in good working order. GnoSys Global Ltd has developed high resilience, retrofittable additives that enable older and newer power cables to ‘self-heal’, preventing failure over time.

Open Grid Systems

Open Grid Systems has developed a portable tablet device that gives network operators a real-time view of their assets while out in the field. The device permits remote access to operational, geographical network data while on the move, and the ability to create reports relating to inspection, maintenance and damage assessment.

Smart Compliance

Carbon monoxide is difficult to detect because it has no smell, taste or colour. The deadly gas claims 40 lives a year in the UK with 4000 people also requiring hospital treatment. Smart Compliance has spent four years researching carbon monoxide to develop an intelligent CO detector. Unlike traditional monitoring devices, which only give local alert warnings and require weekly checks by the user, the Smart Compliance device sends SMS notifications of any CO alerts to a nominated mobile phone or to multiple mobile devices to warn occupiers of the presence of CO.

OptoSci

OptoSci has developed an optical ‘Tuneable Diode Laser Spectroscopy’ (TDLS) based methane sensing system which can be deployed by gas escape teams to enable the early detection of gas leaks in cable ducting in urban areas.

Cresatech

Cresatech has developed the Copper Theft Sensor (CuTS) an innovative technology that monitors site infrastructure 24 hours a day to reduce the operational disruption and the risk to public and employees from theft or removal of copper grounding.

Nuflow

Nu Flow manufactures and installs innovative green technologies to rehabilitate the inner infrastructure of deteriorated or failing water piping systems. They use an array of cured-in-place epoxy pipe lining solutions, preventing leakage from slackened off joints.

Unisys

Unisys is a global information technology company that solves complex IT challenges at the intersection of modern and mission critical.

The Innovation Zone will take place on Stand F50 at Utility Week™ Live incorporating IWEX, from April 21-23 at the NEC, Birmingham. Register free now at utilityweeklive.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Utility Week Live .