EVALUATION

AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF THE LCNF
Low Voltage Network Solutions
Project Title
Low Voltage Network Solutions
Tier 1
DNO
Electricity North West
Status
Closed
LCNF project funding The original project budget was £1,490k. final cost of the project of £1,470k
Project objectives The project aimed to
• trial and develop procedures to install low voltage (LV) monitoring without customer interruptions on 200 low voltage
networks,
• increase understanding of current low voltage network performance,
• develop detailed electrical models to assess hosting capacity and potential network solutions under increasing
penetrations of low carbon technologies (LCTs),
• across the whole low voltage (LV) and high voltage (HV) network, improve existing estimates of load, and develop a
tool to estimate future loads and capacity headroom.
Assessment
Criteria
Accelerates the development of a low
carbon energy sector
Score
(1-5)
4
Overview of assessment, sources of evidence and comments
The project clearly facilitates the connection of low carbon generation or demand.
The carbon benefits not specifically quantified.
Evidence:
Whilst the project has not directly facilitated any LCT connections it has supported and validated the
business decision made by Electricity North West to move to a ‘connect and manage’ approach (with
monitoring) for connection of clusters of small-scale embedded generation such as PV. This is a quicker
and more cost effective method of connection than previous.
As stated in the closedown report: “The project has built the foundations for future deployment of LV
monitoring – making significant contributions to the questions of both how and when to monitor in the
context of increased LCT uptake.”
Reference:
• Closedown report, June 2014
PÖYRY MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
October 2016
713_Poyry_Report_Evaluation_of_the_LCNF_FINAL_Oct_2016_v700.docx
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