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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number NIA_NPG_015
Title Geospatial PV Mapping
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics) 50%;
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 50%;
Research Types Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Geography and Environmental Studies) 50%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Project Contact
No email address given
Northern Powergrid
Award Type Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source Ofgem
Start Date 01 May 2017
End Date 01 May 2018
Duration 12 months
Total Grant Value £210,000
Industrial Sectors Power
Region Yorkshire & Humberside
Programme Network Innovation Allowance
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Project Contact , Northern Powergrid (99.999%)
  Other Investigator Project Contact , SP Energy Networks (0.001%)
Web Site http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_NPG_015
Objectives The objectives of this project are to: Deliver a GIS database of existing and potential solar output, at a property-by-property level, in each study area Produce a dynamic software model of the LV networks in each study area, where changing impacts of actual and potential PV energy flows can be simulated and future uncertainties quantified Produce an improved solar irradiation forecasting method and software that can be integrated into the dynamic software model Assess the economics and efficacy of using satellite data for this and similar types of application. The Project will be successful if :It is shown that the solar PV data delivered offers an improvement in the understanding of current PV deployment in comparison to the data available from OFGEM and other sources The solving of actual and potential solar PV network impacts can be recognised as having real benefits to the networks The Proof-of-Concept online service is intuitive to use The Proof-of-Concept online service allows flexible analysis of identified issues The solar irradiation forecasts service can be identified as improving knowledge and intelligence over and above existing forecasting services used by the DNOs The finished Proof-of-Concept materially improves the DNO’s ability to predict the impact of changes in PV output, in the short-, medium- and long -terms on LV network performance and safety
Abstract It is difficult to correlate data from a DNO PV panel installation database with the Ofgem feed In tariff (FIT) database, to quantify connection points to the LV distribution network and assess the impact of PV panels on the DNO network. PV panel affordability, coupled with carbon-friendly policies (even if the incentives to install panels have fallen sharply in recent years), will inevitably lead to an ever increasing number of PV panels connected to the LV distribution network. The increased penetration of PV panels and lack of their visibility on the LV network is likely to give rise to a range of network management issues. Examples include: Identification of PV panel concentrations on the LV network; PV panels not able to export due to the LV network voltage rise, leading to PV panel inverters tripping off; Potential reverse power flows through the transformer at the secondary substation; Difficulties in planning network maintenance and outages due to potential reverse power flows; and The need to forecast PV panel energy generation. The project aims to utilise satellite imagery to identify existing rooftop solar installations. These datasets will be integrated with Ordnance Survey MasterMap digital mapping and address information. Then using software already developed by Geospatial Insight potential PV output will be calculated, for both existing PV installations and for potential installations for each property in the selected areas. Additional software integrated and created in the project will be added to this, to enable the output from existing and potential PV installations to be estimated throughout any given time period (hourly/daily/weekly etc. ) based upon the time of day/time of year. Furthermore, this would allow forecasting of future output through the combination of this functionality with satellite based weather forecasts in the short-, long- and medium-term. This functionality would then be integrated with a DNO’s LV network data and software developed in this project would be used to model solar PV impacts on the network capacity in both planning and operational timeframes. The individual project elements have never been bought together before. The project aims to integrate these elements and to assess whether they can deliver the required outputs with the required quality.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above
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Added to Database 15/08/18