OMNI Features｜UK Government to Buy Electricity System Operator from National Grid for £630m．Hokuriku Electrical Construction Develops "Dipper" for Automatic Measurement of Wind Farm Cable Slack and Plans National Market Expansion．TotalEnergies Joins Japan Hydrogen Fund to Boost Low-Carbon Hydrogen Value Chain Development

｜UK Government to Buy Electricity System Operator from National Grid for £630m
The UK government has finalized a £630m deal to take control of the National Grid unit responsible for maintaining the power supply, effective next month. Great Britain's Electricity System Operator (ESO) will be transferred into public ownership to create a new National Energy System Operator (Neso) to oversee both the electricity and gas systems. The government aims to adopt a more strategic approach toward a net zero energy system by 2030.

Neso will work alongside GB Energy, a public company focused on low-carbon investments, to support connecting new-generation projects to the grid. Fintan Slye, the current director of ESO, will lead Neso, expressing readiness to offer independent advice and collaborate with key energy stakeholders. National Grid will retain ownership of most transmission cables and grids, continuing its role in the energy transition.

｜Hokuriku Electrical Construction Develops "Dipper" for Automatic Measurement of Wind Farm Cable Slack and Plans National Market Expansion
Hokuriku Electrical Construction (HUKEF) has developed a device named "Dipper," which can automatically measure the slack of cables spanning between towers in wind farms. Equipped with a high-speed fan and GPS, the "Dipper" can be remotely controlled by wind farm workers, allowing it to be transported to the slackest point of the cable and paused at the center.

The use of the Dipper enhances the efficiency of transmission line installations, and GPS data can be transmitted directly to computers or smartphones, ensuring real-time information. The company plans to introduce this device to the national market, with data capable of being received and transmitted remotely to the office for analysis. As data centers and renewable energy projects expand, the demand for power infrastructure is increasing, and the shortage of skilled workers is becoming more urgent, making this innovative technology particularly important at this time.

｜TotalEnergies Joins Japan Hydrogen Fund to Boost Low-Carbon Hydrogen Value Chain Development
TotalEnergies has announced its investment in the Japan Hydrogen Fund, marking its participation at the fund’s first close alongside major Japanese companies. The fund, aimed at advancing the low-carbon hydrogen value chain, has an initial capital of over $400 million contributed by key Japanese players including Toyota, Iwatani, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

Managed by Advantage Partners and established by the Japan Hydrogen Association (JH2A), the fund seeks to foster sustainable development with hydrogen. TotalEnergies, the only non-Japanese investor, views this collaboration as a significant step in its commitment to the energy transition and in leveraging Japan’s thriving hydrogen ecosystem.

Refernece: The Guardian｜nikkei｜OER