Four more of our new ideas for improving the network for customers have been given a big vote of confidence in the latest round of the Innovate UK and Ofgem Strategic Innovation Funding programme. The projects all successfully applied for Discovery funding, which will unlock investment to enable them to proceed with new feasibility studies.
The projects receiving new funding are:
Power Lines
The grid and the railways both make extensive use of overhead networks, and the development of both is expanding as electrification gathers further pace. But right now, these systems are planned and operated independently.
(Credit: Network Rail)
The Power Lines project is going to investigate the feasibility of combining three-phase power distribution networks with railway electrification along current line routes. Specifically, it’ll investigate the technical requirements of this, together with the regulatory landscape involved. An integrated approach could speed up the release of extra capacity onto the network, support ongoing decarbonisation, and reduce the duplication of infrastructure, and thus costs and disruption.
Project partners: Network Rail, Mott Macdonald
RISE
The role of how robotic technology can be judiciously employed in high-risk tasks is one of the key areas to be explored by the Robotics Integration for Sustainable Energy (RISE) project.
(Credit: Glasgow Photography)
In some of the specific tasks distribution networks need to undertake, robotics could reduce risks to workers, and free up skilled workers to carry out other tasks on customers’ behalf. RISE will look at how automation can deliver new capabilities and help strengthen network resilience, while also delivering greater value-for-money for customers.
Project partners: The National Robotarium, CeeD Scotland
Powering Ohms
The growth in electrification requires greater network capacity. This is delivered through the targeted use of flexible solutions and the development of network infrastructure. Currently the latter often involves the laying of new cables, and the construction of larger new substations in secure compounds.
While we've already made big strides in how it delivers these kinds of network improvements while minimising disruption, the Powering Ohms project will consider further innovations in this field. Ideas that will be explored include smaller substations, and devices that can manage voltage levels at the customer’s property, thus reducing the need for larger-capacity, centrally-located transformers. Advances in power electronics and the ongoing miniaturisation of technology will help deliver decarbonisation and increased electrification in a less expensive, and more-discreet way.
Project partners: Energy Innovation Centre, University of Strathclyde PNDC, Newcastle University, PureWave Form, Densix.
HF-PQ Net
The growing number of low-carbon technologies connecting to the network is welcome, and fundamental for decarbonisation, but it’s also having an impact on how networks operate. This is because such devices draw power from the grid at a higher frequency, which can lead to distortion and a potential decline in network reliability.
High-Frequency Power Quality for LCT Networks (HF-PQ Net) will start the work of assessing the extent of the impact this has on the network, by improving monitoring methods and grid visibility. This will shine a light on hitherto-unforeseen network pressures; doing this will mitigate the potential risk to customers’ equipment and help improve the network’s ability to manage the impact of rising LCT connections.
Project partners: National Physical Laboratory.
These four projects have been successful at the Strategic Innovation Fund’s cycle six ‘Discovery’ phase. Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
Frank Clifton, Innovation Manager at SSEN Distribution says,
“Once again, the projects we’ve successfully put forward for funding have been recognised for the tangible improvements they promise for our customers.
“Given the current increase in energy costs, and wider global uncertainty, developing home-grown ideas to make further improvements to the efficiency and value-for-money of our clean energy system has seldom been more important.
“Thanks to this vote of confidence from Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund, our teams – together with their excellent project partners – will now press on with the work to further develop the feasibility of these ideas, with their attention always trained on how customers could benefit from what they may deliver.”
View our innovation portfolio here