Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_UKPN0102 | |
| Title | Blue Light | |
| Status | Started | |
| Energy Categories | Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 80%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts) 20%; |
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| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact UK Power Networks |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 September 2024 | |
| End Date | 28 February 2026 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £1,188,442 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Power | |
| Region | London | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , UK Power Networks |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , South Eastern Power Networks plc Project Contact , Eastern Power Networks plc |
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| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , UK Power Networks |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_UKPN0102 |
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| Objectives | Blue Light proposes a structured approach to assist emergency services with their electrification efforts. The end solution should build on previous innovations, including Optimise Prime and the Site Planning Tool, to simplify the connections process and improve visibility of connections requirements for the emergency services. Whilst the Site Planning Tool provides a self-serve tool indicating possible load profiles for EV charging sites, Blue Light aims to provide a more comprehensive solution for emergency services organisations that enables them to input and view both EV and heat pump installation plans across their estate and over time to support the phased upgrade of sites, allowing them to understand their headroom and the tipping point maximum load that could be taken before reinforcement is required. It will support with understanding the connection requirements of their specialist vehicles and provide suggestions for reducing these requirements by identifying archetypal sites and setting out their options, including moving loads from one site to another, using on-site generation or storage, as well as smart charging. The solution also aims to be used by the DNO to improve its visibility of planned works and improve network planning.The end solution should support with visibility and planning across each emergency services organisations estate. The self-serve platform would enable them to input their EV and heat pump electrification plan and obtain relevant information and advice, aligned to the status of the project at that location, such as being able to see the headroom they have against agreed and potential connection capacity and understand the tipping point at which reinforcement would be needed. The tool would have a time element, enabling them to view how connection requirements and headroom develop over time.Then, where the potential for capacity constraints exists, the tool should provide alternative options or scenarios as to how they might optimise their estate to reduce connection costs. This could include prioritising certain sites for connection increases, using smart charging, moving assets from one site to another or using generation and/or batteries. The tool could also consider security of supply and the use of combined charging hubs, which could provide an alternative supply point should there be an issue with the power at their home base.More broadly, although the individual plans would not be shared beyond the organisations providing the information, it would allow DNOs to have a holistic view of demand/export needs across the services including where geographic locations would allow for greater efficiencies in delivering connections or the associated reinforcement.The first phase of the project involves researching the problem and engaging with key stakeholders to understand their decarbonisation plans, partnering with two or three organisations to trial the approach with real data as a proof-of-concept, and designing the solution. The project will then focus on the build of the solution, which is Phase 2. Further detail on each of the phases can be found in the Scope section below.Measurement & Data Quality Statement:The scope of this project is to provide a new solution for emergency services organisations and DNOs. The project will deliver clear benefits to DNOs through improving the quality of connection applications, thereby reducing the time required to process and iterate applications. The projectis also likely to accelerate the decarbonisation of the emergency services, giving them enhanced visibility of their headroom and the options they must improve their plans.Data gathered during the trial will be kept securely and deleted within a suitable timeframe in accordance with data protection requirements. In compliance with GDPR requirements anonymised and aggregated data only, will be included in project reports for wider distribution. Blue Light aims to support the decarbonisation of emergency services in the UK by developing and implementing innovative tools and strategies to facilitate their decarbonisation plans. The project will focus on comprehensive research, stakeholder engagement and technical development to address the unique challenges faced by the emergency services in electrifying their fleets.The project will include research and engagement and subsequently will involve the development of a proof-of-concept solution for the tool and an implementation plan for BAU.The project is relevant to all blue-light emergency services organisations in UK Power Networks three licence areas. This includes 36 police, fire and ambulance organisations. TheResearch and Engagement work package will look to engage with as many of these as possible.In work packages 2 and 3 of Phase 1 when the proof-of-concept solution is being developed, we will focus on a suitable number of partners to trial the solution.Phase 1WP1: Research and EngagementEngage with multiple emergency services organisations and gather detailed information on their decarbonisation plans, key stakeholders involved, main concerns and risks, and operational requirements.WP2: Connection planning and optimisation toolDevelop a solution that enables emergency services to map out their electrification plans and optimise the connection of EVs across their estate. This will be delivered by gathering data from partners to build the prototype, whilst simultaneously engaging with users to design how the end solution should be used.WP3: Design standardisationDevelop archetypal sites for each partner and determine the behind-the-meter options for reducing connections requirements. This will feed into the end solution, enabling the emergency services organisations to see the options available to them at each site across their estate.Phase 2Solution DevelopmentFollowing the above phases, the solution will be developed. This will be further scoped out based on the findings from Phase 1. To engage with police, fire, and ambulance organisations to gather data on their decarbonisation plans and how the electricity distribution infrastructure should look for these targets to be met.To build a new tool that can be used to: Assist emergency services in mapping out their electrification plans across their estate, enabling them to make more informed decisions, alleviating the unique challenges facing the sector, as laid out in Section 3.1.1. Enable the DNO to collaborate more effectively with emergency services and cut out time wasted reviewing insufficiently informed applications and requests. | |
| Abstract | Blue Light aims to allow DNOs to enable the decarbonisation of the emergency services in a more efficient and collaborative way. The project intends to streamline the connections process and enhance visibility of connection requirements for emergency services and the DNO, and support network planning and reinforcement. The project will involve research and engagement with emergency services followed by the design and development of a solution. This self-serve solution will allow them to input electrification plans and offer information, including headroom against connection capacity now and over time, and provide optimisation options to reduce costs and ensure resilience. This will provide the DNO with a solution to help emergency services decarbonise efficiently and foster collaboration with stakeholders who have not been traditional customers of connections. | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 02/04/25 | |
