Prof. Qiteng Hong, Co-Investigator of the ENSIGN project, was invited to deliver guest lectures on power system protection to researchers at Seoul National University, one of South Korea’s leading universities. During his visit, he was also invited to deliver a plenary talk at a workshop organised by the Korean Institute of Power Electronics (KIPE), which attracted more than 200 attendees from academia and industry.
We were delighted to see Dr Junyi Lu, researcher working on WP2 Electrical Network Sub-Digital Twin within the EPSRC Prosperity Partnership ENSIGN project, present his paper at PHM Society, PHMe26 Oslo, the 9th European Conference of the Prognostics and Health Management Society, held from 8–10 July 2026.
Paper Title: Impact of Reactive Power Assumptions on Physics-Informed Assessment of Transformer Ageing in Distribution Networks
Dr Junyi Lu‘s paper presents a physics-informed framework for assessing distribution transformer ageing in networks with growing numbers of solar PV systems and low-carbon technologies. It shows that traditional assumptions about reactive power can significantly misrepresent transformer loading and thermal stress, leading to inaccurate asset-life predictions. Using real-world network data and thermal ageing models, the study demonstrates that more realistic reactive power assumptions are essential for improving transformer health prognostics in data-scarce distribution networks.
PHMe26 brought together researchers, industry experts and practitioners from across the PHM community, building on the success of PHMe24 in Prague. The conference featured keynote presentations, technical sessions, tutorials and panel discussions focused on the latest advances in prognostics, health management and reliability engineering.
Congratulations to Dr Junyi Lu for representing the Ensign project and sharing this important research with the international PHM community.
We’re delighted to share that Dr Junyi Lu and Dr Bruce Stephen will be presenting their paper:
“Impact of Reactive Power Assumptions on Physics-Informed Assessment of Transformer Ageing in Distribution Networks”
at PHME 2026 in Oslo on Friday 10 July 2026.
Co-authored by Junyi Lu, Blair Brown, Qiteng Hong, Campbell Booth and Bruce Stephen, the paper explores how changing reactive power flows, driven by increasing adoption of residential solar PV systems and low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps, can significantly affect transformer ageing assessments.
Using a physics-informed prognostic framework, the research demonstrates that commonly used constant power factor assumptions can lead to overly optimistic asset-life predictions by misrepresenting transformer loading and thermal stress. The findings highlight the importance of improved reactive power assumptions for more accurate transformer health assessment and asset management in data-scarce distribution networks.
Congratulations to the authors, and we look forward to the presentation and discussions at PHME 2026.
Dr. Paul ConnerDr Paul Connor (Ensign Co‑I, WP4) and Dr Gavin Irvine (Ensign Researcher, WP4) from the University of St Andrews will present at Session 3: Hydrogen Transport & Storage in the SPEERI Hydrogen & Advanced Fuels webinar series on 17 June 2026 (online), led by the University of Glasgow.
This webinar session is set to deliver a comprehensive overview of hydrogen transport and storage landscape, with expert speakers presenting the latest innovations, challenges, and opportunities in the sector. Attendees will gain insight into:
The session reinforces the importance of knowledge exchange and partnership working in accelerating the transition to low-carbon energy systems.
Dr Paul Connor and Dr Gavin Irvine will be joined by:
This session will showcase innovative collaborative projects at the intersection of academia and industry in the hydrogen transport & storage landscape.
Ensign are delighted to see Prof Mercedes Maroto-Valer recognised with this well-deserved appointment to the Energy Efficiency Movement’s Executive Committee.
As Co-I for Work Package 5 on the ENSIGN IES-DT programme at Heriot-Watt University, it’s a privilege to work alongside someone whose leadership continues to shape the future of industrial decarbonisation.
As Director of the UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC), and through her pioneering work in CCUS, hydrogen, and integrated energy systems, Mercedes consistently bridges the gap between research and real-world impact.
A fantastic addition to the Movement at such a crucial time for scaling energy efficiency solutions. Congratulations, Mercedes—truly inspiring to see!
Dr Junyi Lu (ENSIGN WP2-Electrical Sub-Digital Twin) is presenting at today’s Quarterly Forecasting Forum at Lancaster Centre for Marketing Analytics and Forecasting.
The forum, held from 12:00–16:30, brings together academics and practitioners for an afternoon of discussion on the latest developments in forecasting research and practice. It’s a fantastic platform for sharing ideas, methods, and real-world applications across areas such as demand planning, supply chain, economics, and energy.
Junyi will deliver an insightful presentation titled:
“Cardinal Point Forecasting and its integration with distribution network modelling” as part of the programme (15:30–16:00), showcasing innovative work that bridges forecasting theory with practical network modelling applications.
Co-hosted by Dr Kandrika Pritularga and Dr Ivan Svetunkov from the Centre for Marketing Analytics and Forecasting at Lancaster University, the event continues to be a valuable opportunity—especially for PhD students and early-career researchers—to engage with the wider forecasting community.
Today’s All-Energy Exhibition and Conference brought together industry leaders to explore some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in the transition to a low-carbon energy system.
Decarbonising the Future Distribution Grid
A standout session focused on “Decarbonising the Future Distribution Grid: Challenges, Opportunities & Emerging Solutions.”
Dr Graeme Hawker (Lead – WP1, ENSIGN – IES-DT Project) delivered an engaging and insightful presentation on the evolving distribution landscape and the innovations required to enable a low-carbon future.
Presenting alongside Allison Strachan, Senior Energy Specialist at the Centre for Energy Equality and Mark Goudie, Head of Strategic Projects & Optimisation at SP Energy Networks, the session emphasised:
Overall, it was a thought-provoking discussion with valuable insights for those working to accelerate progress towards net zero.
Electricity System Resilience
The session “Electricity System Resilience: Securing Power in an Increasingly Electrified World”, led by ENSIGN Advisory Board member Professor Keith Bell, highlighted the growing importance of resilience in modern energy systems.
Key discussion points included:
The core takeaway was clear: resilience must sit alongside decarbonisation as a fundamental priority.
It was encouraging to see strong engagement from colleagues in the discussion on “Hydrogen at Scale: Lessons from Scotland for a Global Transition” at the All-Energy Conference.
The panel featured leading experts, including Dr Paul Connor (University of St Andrews), contributing to the ENSIGN project’s Hydrogen Sub-Digital Twin (WP4), and Dr Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu, Associate Director at the Energy Materials and Technology Research Centre, Heriot-Watt University.
The discussion highlighted hydrogen’s growing importance within future integrated energy systems—not only as a low-carbon energy vector, but also as a key enabler of flexibility, storage, and system resilience when integrated with electricity networks, renewable generation, heat, and industrial demand.
These themes closely align with the ENSIGN project, where the hydrogen sub-digital twin is being developed as part of a broader integrated energy system digital twin, alongside complementary models for electricity, heat, and industrial clusters.
Professor Keith Bell will be part of the “Innovation that Unlocks the Next Wave of Clean Power” discussion at All-Energy Glasgow 2026 today.
A packed session exploring how we move from ambition to delivery in a rapidly evolving energy system:
Brilliant insights from Professor Keith Bell and fellow panellists Charlie Sanchez, Darren Gee, Jon Saltmarsh, and Nassima Brown on what true system integration looks like.
The message is clear: innovation isn’t a single technology — it’s how we connect markets, infrastructure, and demand to unlock the next wave of clean power.
The fifth edition of the ENSIGN Newsletter marks the halfway point of the programme and highlights a series of recent engagements, including our dissemination event held in April.
The first quarter of 2026 has been particularly productive, with new team members joining and outputs from across the work packages coming together as deliverables now ready for evaluation by SPEN. A key milestone has been the delivery of demonstrators from WP1 and WP2, translating research outputs into intuitive, point‑and‑click applications. These demonstrators broaden access to ENSIGN’s work and offer a clear indication of the pathway towards operational adoption.
You can access the newsletter from the following link: NEWSLETTER
We invite you to explore the latest updates and welcome conversations with anyone interested in collaboration or learning more about ongoing developments. Thank you for your continued interest and support.
All-Energy 2026 | Panel Session Highlight – Decarbonising the Future Distribution Grid: Challenges, Opportunities & Emerging Solutions.
We’re pleased to share that Dr Graeme Hawker (Ensign WP1 Lead) will be part of an expert panel at All-Energy on Thursday 14th May 2026, taking place at the Future Grid Show Floor Theatre.
This insightful session will explore how the transition to a low‑carbon future is reshaping electricity distribution networks. The panel will delve into the impacts of large‑scale adoption of EVs, heat pumps and electrified heat, as well as the growing interaction between electricity, heat and hydrogen systems.
The discussion will also highlight how flexibility — through demand-side response, smart controls and coordinated planning — can unlock system‑wide benefits, alongside the vital role of innovation, real‑world trials and regulatory frameworks in delivering scalable, future‑ready solutions.
Dr Graeme Hawker is the ENSIGN WP1 Lead, ensuring integration and interoperability of models across WP2–5. He is also a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Strathclyde and an expert in multi-carrier energy simulation, optimisation and whole‑system modelling.
He will be joined on the panel by:
Come along to find out more about the future of decarbonising the distribution grid and the practical solutions shaping tomorrow’s energy systems.
