Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
||
| Reference Number | NIA_UKPN0105 | |
| Title | Keeping Comms Open | |
| Status | Started | |
| Energy Categories | Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research 20%; Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 60%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts) 20%; |
|
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics) 50%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 50%; |
|
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 80%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy 20%; |
|
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact UK Power Networks |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 January 2025 | |
| End Date | 31 December 2027 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £635,102 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Power | |
| Region | London | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , UK Power Networks |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Powergrid (Northeast) Limited Project Contact , South Eastern Power Networks plc Project Contact , Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire) plc Project Contact , ScottishPower Manweb plc |
|
| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , UK Power Networks |
|
| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_UKPN0105 |
|
| Objectives | The Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) ran a call for innovation ICA-23-03 Keeping Comms Open During HV Faults where four innovators submitted proposals.One Innovator has been selected by the participating DNOs.DefProc Engineering will develop an existing smart, uninterruptible power supply (Smart-UPS) that has previously been used for telehealth. The new device will provide power to an Optical Network Terminal (ONT); a device that connects a user to a fibre-optic network and provides internet access. The intention is to enable multi-day FTTP power for domestic and emergency phones in the case of power loss. They will also develop a community satellite phone box for remote communities and substations to provide connectivity to the DNO in the event of a complete communication loss to an area. This will provide the option to assist operational staff and support individual PSR customers and communities as appropriate to their needs.The project will work with DefProc Engineering to develop their proposed solutions and test their suitability for deployment in customer homes, community buildings and substations..Up to 18 Smart-UPS units will be supplied to conduct customer acceptability tests. Customers will be invited to trial the Smart-UPS where, should they have a power cut, they will be able to maintain telecommunications and receive appropriate support.Up to 18 community satellite phones will also be deployed to remote communities or substations in areas with poor mobile coverage. Field staff will be asked to trial the satellite phone and receive instructions from control. This project will consist of research and development for the Smart-UPS device and satellite phones. The project will be carried out over two phases. The first phase will consist of DefProc Engineering developing and testing the devices at their offices in Liverpool. Each partner will review end of work package reports. The second phase of the project will focus on identifying trial locations to deploy the devices produced by DefProc Engineering and then conducting the trials.The trial stage will not have any impact on the length of the power cuts. There may be some impact on the customers selected for the trial stage as we may require them to switch off their supply for testing of the Smart-UPS device. This testing scenario will be developed in full in the trial design.The project will consist of four work packages. The overall aim and scope for each work package is below:Work Package 1 Smart-UPS Build Development of Smart-UPS for use within vulnerable customers properties Stage gate to review DNOs business case for Smart-UPS devices Engage with telecoms providers to understand similar work they are doing in this space. Engage with disability charities to ensure that the Smart-UPS incorporates inclusion by design and that the accompanying information pack is easy to understand. Develop a trial design for the testing period, with scenarios agreed by DNOsWork Package 2 Community Satellite Phone Build Development of Community Satellite Phone Call Point for use in remote communities Stage gate to review DNOs business case for Community Satellite Phone Call Points Engage with disability charities to ensure that the community phone incorporates inclusion by design. Develop a trial design for the testing period, with scenarios agreed by DNOsWork Package 3 Smart-UPS Trials Data analysis to identify suitable customers for trial Produce instructions for customers, and training foroperators and develop an installation plan for the Smart-UPS devices in customers homes Field trial of Smart-UPS device in customersproperties Obtain operational staff and customer feedback on the Smart-UPSWork Package 4 Community Satellite Phone Trials Data analysis to identify suitable areas for trials Train operational staff to install the phones and develop and installation plan for each device, obtaining planning permission where appropriate Field trial of Community Satellite Phone in remote communities and substations Engage with local communities and Community Councils to raise awareness of the new phones Obtain operational staff and customer feedback on the Community Satellite Phone Build and test a Smart-UPS that can deliver power to communications for up to 72 hours Build and test a Community Satellite Phone which can provide communication from a substation or a community building. Demonstrate that both devices can safely enable communication when electricity is unavailable Deploy the devices to suitable trial locations across the three DNO groups Collect feedback from DNOs and customers during the trial, incorporating into any adaptations required for BAU deployment Assess the costs and benefits for the devices, including other devices on the market | |
| Abstract | The UK telephone network will soon shift away from copper cabling to a fibre optic based network, reliant on electricity supply. This means that during a network outage, vulnerable customers would be unable to call for help.This project will develop an existing Smart-UPS to deliver and facilitate health-related services to customers in vulnerable situations by enabling multi-day Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) power for phones in the case of prolonged power loss.A satellite phone will also be developed for remote communities to provide connectivity to the DNO in case of a complete loss of communication in an area. This will provide the option to support individual PSR customers or communities as appropriate to their needs in the event of an outage. | |
| Data | No related datasets |
|
| Projects | No related projects |
|
| Publications | No related publications |
|
| Added to Database | 02/04/25 | |
