go to top scroll for more

Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_WPD_072
Title	Q-Flex
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 100%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given Western Power Distribution (WPD) - South Wales
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 September 2022
End Date	31 March 2023
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£538,268
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	Wales
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , Western Power Distribution (WPD) - South Wales (99.997%)
	Other Investigator	Project Contact , Western Power Distribution (WPD) - East Midlands (0.001%) Project Contact , Western Power Distribution (WPD) - South West (0.001%) Project Contact , Western Power Distribution (WPD) - West Midlands (0.001%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , Western Power Distribution (0.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_WPD_072
Objectives	The innovation work is expected to be delivered through several linked work packages (WP) as follows:WP1 - Current & Emerging Technologies Reactive Power CapabilityWP2 - Q-Flex Reactive Power StudiesWP3 - Q-Flex Cost Benefit AnalysisWP4 - Reactive Power Flexibility Market Engagement & DevelopmentWP5 - Q-Flex Project Report This project aims to solve the problem outlined above by demonstrating that the provision of flexible reactive power is technically possible, assessing whether flexible reactive power is a solution to forecasted network constraints, and understanding if participants are willing to provide reactive power as a flexibility service. This project will consist of the following five work packages which will run in parallel:• Work Package 1 (WP1): Current & Emerging Technologies Reactive Power Capability (4 months)- WP1 consists of gathering and reviewing literature of current and emerging technologies reactive power capability and controllability, as well as a review of relevant past trial results and control systems. This will be followed by developing and issuing questionnaires to asset owners, and developing a reactive power technology catalogue. - The outputs of this WP will be a documented literature review, questionnaires on both existing and emerging technologies, a reactive power technology catalogue and a final WP1 report. • Work Package 2 (WP2): Q-Flex Reactive Power Studies (4.5 months)- WP2 consists of undertaking power system studies to demonstrate that optimised reactive power dispatch has the ability to defer network reinforcements and minimise networks losses. These studies will includes assessment of reinforcement deferment, loss minimisation and the operation of reactive power flexibility. - The output of this WP will be a report containing the case studies selected, the Q-Flex algorithm and results and analysis from the power system studies carried out. • Work Package 3 (WP3): Q-Flex Cost Benefit Analysis (5 months)- WP3 will involve carrying out economic Cost Benefit Analysis to determine the financial and environmental costs/benefits of deferred network reinforcements and minimised losses achieved from the use of flexible reactive power.- The outputs from this WP will be a report containing the methodology and findings from the Q-Flex CBA, and the CBA spreadsheets developed. • Work Package 4 (WP4): Reactive Power Flexibility Market Engagement & Development (5 months)- WP4 will involve carrying out a market assessment to determine asset owners interest in providing flexible reactive power as a service, as well as developing an initial market design for the procurement of reactive power from technology asset owners.- The output of this WP will be a report containing assessment of the interest from providers in a reactive power flexibility market, and the market design. • Work Package 5 (WP5): Q-Flex Project Report (2 months)- WP5 will produce a report detailing the summary of learnings, conclusions and recommendations from the project. A reactive power flexibility market does not currently exist, but could provide value to our customers and change the way we design and operate our network. The project will help gain an understanding on which commercial customers connected to our network are able to provide reactive power flexibility, and understand their willingness to do so through engagement and questionnaires. Following this, the project will design a new reactive power flexibility market. Demonstrate that the provision of flexible reactive power is technically possible.Assess whether flexible reactive power is a solution to forecasted network constraints.Understanding if participants are willing to provide reactive power as a flexibility service.
Abstract	This project will demonstrate if flexible reactive power is possible, assess whether it is a solution to voltage problems, loss minimisation and thermal network constraints, and understand if participants are willing to provide reactive power as a service. It will carry out engagement and literature review to document which technologies are able to provide reactive power flexibility and, undertake studies to demonstrate if optimised reactive power dispatch has the ability to defer network reinforcements and minimise losses. It will then carry out Cost Benefit Analysis to determine the financial and environmental costs/benefits achieved from the use of flexible reactive power, and carry out a market assessment to determine asset owners interest in providing flexible reactive power as a service, before developing an initial market design.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	14/10/22