Business plans - UK Power Networks

Smart urban low voltage network (July 2012) – Most LV networks
are passive, meaning they cannot be actively reconfigured to
match user requirements. We have been working in collaboration
with TE Connectivity, to develop a new solid-state switching
technology for use these networks. The devices developed can
provide us with remote switching and re-configuration of the
LV network. The system also has the ability to provide visibility
of power flows on the network, using the near real-time
communications and built in sensors. This enables extensive
load monitoring so we can better understand the live state of the
LV network.
Two LCNF Tier 2 projects have been awarded funding and a third
proposal has been submitted:
• October 2010: Low Carbon London – Ofgem awarded
£24.9 million to our first flagship project, supported by a £5
million investment by us
• November 2011: Flexible Plug and Play – awarded £6.8 million
for a second flagship project
• Smarter Network Storage – the aim of this proposed project is
to install a storage plant to solve a network constraint and to
investigate additional revenue streams for providing network
services. Electricity storage could provide value for customers
by reducing the need for network reinforcement and has
wider system benefits such as providing network services such
as reserve and response to help keep electricity supply and
demand in balance
Low Carbon London
January 2011 to June 2014
Low Carbon London is a £30 million pioneering learning
programme. It uses London as a test area to support the
development of a smarter electricity networks that can manage
the demands of a low-carbon economy. It is a collaborative
programme with partners including the Mayor, Transport
for London, academia, and leaders in low carbon and
smart technologies.
Through a series of trials we are monitoring the electricity
demand of homes and businesses across London, and
testing a number of initiatives designed to encourage
changes in electricity usage patterns. We will be improving our
understanding of the effect that the low-carbon transition will
have on the operation of the electricity network. Low Carbon
London is trialling some ground-breaking commercial contracts
with larger industrial and commercial organisations, aimed at
reducing electricity consumption at times of peak demand by
tapping into surplus small-scale generation. The understanding
gained from these trials will help us to ensure the most
cost-effective approach to providing a sustainable electricity
network to meet demand in a low carbon future. The trials
started at the beginning of 2012 and will run through to the end
of 2013, with final reporting delivered in early 2014.
Progress to date
We have established a common demand response contract with
three external aggregators to enable the sign up of customers to
reduce load at peak times on selected substations. 13.8MW has
been signed up and further 115MW is in pipeline.
Distributed generation and active network management trials:
approximately 30 sites currently identified, 12 being signed up
with a further eight in advanced stages of negotiation. These
trials are aimed to inform how we can maximise opportunities
for low carbon, distributed and micro-generated electricity,
respond to new demands on the electricity network from a low
carbon economy and match local energy demand with national
low carbon energy demand. We will trial techniques to assess
how we can best enable, facilitate, and manage distributed
generation to improve security of supply and reduce network
investment costs.
First customers identified and signed up for electric vehicle
trial: 30 residential and 70 commercial participants with access
to more than 750 charging points across London through
collaboration with the Source London e-mobility scheme.
This will allow us to monitor electric vehicle charging behaviour
and its impact on the electricity network; investigate how EV
charging can be influenced by time-of-user tariffs to influence
when customers charge to seek to minimise the cost of
expanding the network.
>pg48 | Business plan