The Smarter Networks Portal has been developed by Powerdev for the Energy Networks Association (ENA) as an information sharing tool currently aimed at Electricity Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) with the intention to roll out to Electricity Transmission Network Operators and Gas Distribution Network Operators in the future.

The UK has ambitious targets for reducing carbon emissions by 2020. In order to achieve these targets, significant changes will be required in the way electricity is generated, distributed and used. The government’s Low Carbon Network Fund (LCNF) provides grants to encourage innovation in the industry in areas such as efficient low voltage networks, electric vehicles, integrating solar, wind and other renewable generation into existing networks. Initially the Smarter Networks Portal will be a repository for all information regarding projects funded by the LCNF but its scope is likely to be extended at a later date.

The website is built in HTML5 within .NET 2010 using frameworks that adapt to screen size and was developed with expert assistance on the front end from our design partner Erwan Bézie. Data is held on a SQL Server 2008 R2 database and the system is hosted on the ENA’s dedicated web server, which is administrated by Powerdev. A second version, which will address feedback returned by selected users during the intervening period is scheduled for a ‘hard launch’ at the beginning of Q2 2013.