Projects

Started

Applied Research and Development

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Geography and Environmental Studies)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions)

Project Contact
Northern Powergrid

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 December 2025

30 June 2027

ENA months

£414,580

Power

Yorkshire & Humberside

NULL

Project Contact, Northern Powergrid

Project Contact, Northern Powergrid (Northeast) Limited
Project Contact, Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc

The project seeks to create a dynamic, risk-based approach to flood mitigation, enabling timely, targeted, and cost-effective interventions that align with sustainability goals and adapt to evolving climate change risks. It will deliver:? A comprehensive reassessment of flood risk for grid, primary, and selected distribution substations, incorporating the latest Environment Agency datasets and climate change projections.? A unique, quantified risk matrix methodology, considering asset criticality, societal impact, and interdependencies with other infrastructure providers.? The deployment of advanced flood monitoring devices at high-priority sites, enabling real-time data capture, predictive alerts, and integration with NPgs non-operational iHost Innovation system ahead of BAU integration and implementation.The work will be delivered in distinct phases:Baseline assessment of current and future flood risk against latest projections, identifying assets where existing mitigations may be insufficient.Development of the risk matrix and methodology for prioritising intervention at critical distribution substations not covered by ETR138.Targeted deployment of monitoring devices at highest-risk sites, enabling proactive flood response and operational efficiency gains. During the project, data will be made available via NPgs non-operational iHost Innovation system.Evaluation of future expansion to other environmental perils and at-risk asset classes (e.g., cable bridges, embankments), where climate-related risks are currently unquantified. Identified portfolio of Grid and Primary substations (initial cohort size to be set in Stage 1: indicative 3060 sites).Flood risk types: fluvial, pluvial, surface water, groundwater emergence, drainage exceedance, tidal (where applicable).Data integration from public and commercial sources (EA/NRW/SEPA flood mapping, LiDAR/DEM, Met Office rainfall, historical incidents, site records).Monitoring: water level, rainfall, ground saturation, doorway thresholds, sump/pump telemetry, access road sensors, CCTV (condition, not security), communications and power resilience.Dashboards/alerts into control/ops (e.g., integration plan or API spec for existing systems like DNO GIS/EMS/OMS/EDMS/PowerOnexact system naming to confirm).Development of risk-based investment options, business case, and adaptive pathways aligned to climate scenarios. Stage 1 Baseline Assessment UDlive to undertake flood risk analysis for each site using the latest Environment Agency datasets covering main river, coastal, and surface water. UDlive to identify sites where existing mitigation measures are no longer adequate under projected future conditionsStage 2 Risk Matrix DevelopmentUDlive to develop a quantified, risk-based matrix which incorporates a variety of factors including for example, customer numbers and type (including vulnerable customers), geographic location and environmental context, equipment type and condition, fault history and operational performance, interdependencies with other infrastructure providers and stakeholder and community feedback. UDlive to apply Risk Matrix to NPg assets; prioritised list of substations for monitoring/mitigation interventions shared with NPg.Stage 3 Monitoring Deployment UDlive to install 110 flood monitoring devices at high?risk sites. Real?time monitoring integrated into NPgs iHost innovation systemStage 4 Adaptive Pathways & ExpansionUDlive to define operational trigger points and deliver adaptive pathways/site-specific resilience roadmaps allowing for the cost-effective sequencing of mitigation measures.Feasibility of expanding methodology to other assets assessed; collaboration opportunities explored with external utilities for shared monitoring.

Project SAFEGRID is an innovative Flood Prevention System project designed to transform how flood risk is assessed, monitored, and mitigated across the electricity distribution network. This initiative builds on NPgs strong track record of achieving compliance with the national flood resilience standard (ETR138) but recognises the urgent need to move beyond traditional, carbon-intensive physical mitigations such as concrete walls and site relocation.

24/04/26