Net Zero Service Termination Project

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 August 2021

31 December 2022

ENA months

£625,000

Power

Scotland

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)

Project Contact, Northern Powergrid (Northeast) Limited
Project Contact, South Eastern Power Networks plc
Project Contact, Electricity North West Limited
Project Contact, Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc
Project Contact, SPEN - SP Distribution Plc
Project Contact, UKPN London Power Networks plc
Project Contact, Western Power Distribution (WPD) - East Midlands
Project Contact, Western Power Distribution (WPD) - South Wales
Project Contact, Western Power Distribution (WPD) - South West
Project Contact, Western Power Distribution (WPD) - West Midlands
Project Contact, ScottishPower Manweb plc
Project Contact, Eastern Power Networks plc

Project Contact, Western Power Distribution
Project Contact, Scottish and Southern Energy plc
Project Contact, Northern Powergrid
Project Contact, UK Power Networks
Project Contact, SP Energy Networks

The idea for this project was identified by the work already underway via the ENAs Low Carbon Technology (ENA LCT) Working Group which has identified service cables, terminations, looped services and cut-outs as being potentially impacted by changes in loading. The method used by the project is summarised below, and will involve a combination of desk top research and physical testing using a test network which can simulate the various testing environments:1. Understand the ability of service termination cut-outs, looped services and service cables in customer premises to withstand additional loading applied by LCTs;2. Understand and test the de-rating effects on customers service cables under practical operating conditions, when subject to additional LCT loading.3. Understand the ability of street furniture service cut-outs and cables to withstand additional loading applied by EVs;4. Understand and test the de-rating effects on street furniture service cables under practical operating conditions, when EVs are connected to them;5. Test cut-outs and service cables, with the new LCT duration curves and identifying the level of de-rating against the original cut-out/cable standards;6. Once any de-rating has been identified, the project will make recommendations on how these may be incorporated with future network design methodologies.The outputs of this project can be used as learning by network companies and LCT installers to establish the suitability of cut-outs and service cable types for the connection of LCTs, thus avoiding this equipment from being overloaded and damaged. The ENA LCT Working Group has identified a range of cut-out and service cable types, as well as a range of installation scenarios which will be tested and analysed by the project. The outputs from the project will provide important learning for other projects which are looking at how DNOs can accommodate a very high number of connection applications anticipated to transition to Net Zero.One such project which will benefit from this learning is the SPEN iDentify NIA project which is looking at the potential to digitise the process for applying to a DNO when a customer wants to connect LCT devices to their property. The iDentify project, has a primary purpose of employing Artificial Intelligence to identify the make and model of cut-outs, including their ratings and other information relevant to DNOs and also LCT devices, i.e. domestic EV charge points and HPs to be installed. The learnings from this project could improve project iDentifys outputs. The learning from this project will help inform the DNOs and LCT installers of the suitability of cut-outs and service cable types for the connection of LCTs, thus avoiding such equipment from being overloaded and damaged. A comprehensive analysis of the de-rating of LCT connections on service termination equipment and service cables will create an understanding of these issues and allow a standard planning approach to be adopted on a nationwide basis. The resulting ratings could also be applied to DNO Business as Usual activities, such as allowing certain service positions to be operated under LCT loads or justifying the expense of upgrading cables and cut-outs to allow connection of LCT loads. The output from the project will be disseminated in the form of a database that will be publicly available. A custodian for this database will be identified as part of the project.

A project report capturing learnings on the suitability of service cables and cut-outs to accommodate the increased loading as a result of connection of EVs and heat pumps will be produced.

14/10/22