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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	WPD_NIA_063
Title	Flexible Operation of Water Networks Enabling Response Services (FLOWERS)
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research 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) - East Midlands
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 January 2022
End Date	28 February 2023
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£287,729
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	East Midlands
Programme
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , Western Power Distribution (WPD) - East Midlands (99.997%)
	Other Investigator	Project Contact , Western Power Distribution (WPD) - South Wales (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/WPD_NIA_063
Objectives	This project will analyse the potential for water networks to deliver flexibility to distribution networks by embedding capacity within the operational processes which manage the inherent time difference (latency) between when water is pumped and stored for Drinking Water and Waste Water functions. It will assess the technical, operational and commercial requirements for extracting latency flexibility from water networks. This work will take place in partnership with South Wester Water (SWW), and consist of 6 work packages:  LFA1. Feasibility of latency flexibilityThis work package will explore methods of delivering latency flexibility and analyse the feasibility of implementing it on SWWs system. A series of workshops will be held with SWW data and process engineers to identify SWW flexible assets and processes to map against WPD constraint requirements.LFA2. Regulatory feasibility and development of commercial and regulatory relationships This work package will define the regulatory compliance and commercial viability requirements for creation of a latency flexibility product which can be embedded within the 1st tier of flexibility to be accessed by electricity network control rooms. WPD and SWW legal teams will be engaged to assess the legal feasibility of creating the latency flexibility product. LFA3. Mapping and case study selectionThis work package will create and implement a methodology to quantify and map the capacity for latency flexibility from LFA1 onto SWWs networks and WPDs constraint map to identify areas of greatest potential benefit. From this a shortlist of potential case study areas will be produced, from which one will be selected. LFA4. Technical and operational system specificationThis work package will document the technical and/or operational solutions necessary to implement latency flexibility. It will assess the cost of implementing these solutions across SWWs network. It will aim to specify the required revised standard operating procedures, process solutions, software solutions and (if necessary) hardware.  LFA5. Case study modelling, simulation and cost-benefit analysis This work package will take the outputs of work packages 2-4 and model the implementation and procurement of latency flexibility in the case study area. It will analyse the capacity procured over a set time period and perform a cost-benefit analysis to identify the potential benefits of the system. LFA6. Recommendation for follow-on project and final reportThis work package will produce a report analyse the outcomes of the preceding five work packages and, if deemed appropriate, produce recommendations for the follow-on project to FLOWERS. FLOWERS aims to increase the capacity embedded within water networks to deliver flexibility for distribution networks. Water utilities are one of the largest consumers of electrical power, about 1TWh of demand across WPDs four licence areas. South West Water contributes 300GWh of this demand. Developing new operational processes and removing commercial and regulatory barriers for water networks to deliver flexibility therefore presents a significant opportunity for unlocking of flexibility capacity which is value for money to customers.The project builds on an NIA project delivered by National Grid ESO to investigate the potential flexibility capacity in storm drains and wastewater catchments, which quantified capacity but did not create a commercial model for accessing it. It will expand the search for capacity on water networks, quantifying the available capacity across both wastewater and drinking water systems within the inherent latency of their pumping operations. As such, it is expected to uncover a greater level of capacity and also develop a cost-saving commercial model for its delivery.It is conservatively estimated that this project can deliver 0.25% of water network demand as flexibility. This amounts to 750MWh of capacity extracted from South West Waters Network yearly. Replicated across the breadth of the four licence areas, this could unlock upwards of 2.5GWh of flexibility capacity on water networks. These capacities could, respectively, deliver £2.5m and £8.5m of value to customers. Assess the technical and legal feasibility of embedding flexibility on water networks within the latency of their internal pumping operational processes.Quantify and map water latency flexibility capacity to understand the alignment between availability and network constraint zones.Determine the commercial arrangements necessary to procure flexibility capacity within water network processes.Understand the technical and operational requirements of the system that would trigger latency flexibility.
Abstract	The FLOWERS project will analyse the potential capacity on South West Waters network to embed flexibility capacity within the time difference (latency) between when Drinking Water and Waste Water is pumped and stored, and when it used by the system. It will explore methods of delivering latency flexibility and analyse the feasibility of implementing it on SWWs system. It will define the regulatory compliance and commercial viability requirements for creation of a latency flexibility product which can be embedded within electricity network control rooms. If appropriate, a recommendations document will be produced identifying next steps for the development of latency flexibility capacity in ED2. The project will be delivered in partnership with South West Water and Smart Grid Consultancy.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	02/11/22