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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_SSEN_0057
Title	Decarbonising Utility Transport using Whole System Thinking
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Energy Efficiency(Transport) 70%; Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Environmental, social and economic impacts) 30%;
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 (Environmental dimensions) 30%; Systems Analysis related to energy R&D (Other Systems Analysis) 70%;
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD)
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 February 2022
End Date	30 November 2022
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£117,920
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	Scotland
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD) (100.000%)
	Other Investigator	Project Contact , Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution plc (SHEPD) (100.000%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , Scottish and Southern Energy plc (0.000%) Project Contact , SP Energy Networks (0.000%) Project Contact , UK Power Networks (0.000%) Project Contact , Northern Powergrid (0.000%) Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks (0.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_SSEN_0057
Objectives	We propose a desktop-based literature review to understand the composition of utility fleet vehicles, the nature of the challenges and the global logistic trends which are responding to the emerging call for fleet decarbonisation (on-road / off-road transport modes). We will apply whole system thinking which considers adjacent markets which impact the provision of electrification, hydrogen, biomethane and alternative development fuels as potential fuel sources for fleet vehicles. We will also explore opportunities for innovation so that the overall “miles travelled” may be reduced (e.g., using drones / digitisation of sites).We will complement the literature review by engaging with utility stakeholders (fleet / construction/ operational managers) and solution suppliers (vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturer, infrastructure suppliers etc.) to explore needs, prevailing practices, and transport offers. This will help to unpick the challenges, so that barriers can be clearly articulated and opportunities “spotlighted”. We will develop a roadmap of where innovation, investment, new business models, products etc. are needed to overcome the challenges.Our approach is unique as it takes a whole system approach, and it is looking to bring a great range of stakeholders together. We will be working with a global consultancy who will be bringing in an international perspective on the challenges and interventions needed. We will be using a whole system modelling software, provided by Energy Systems Catapult (ESC), to provide additional insights on the impact the interventions will have on decarbonising utility fleets. In Scope:Stage 1 Gap Analysis: Desktop Research & Stakeholder engagementTRL at start of stage: 2TRL at end of stage: 4Stage 2 Roadmap DevelopmentTRL at start of stage: 2TRL at end of stage: 4Out of scope:• Vehicle types not owned and operated by utility companies• Developing a technical solution to address the gaps identified• Research of areas outside transport and logistics operationsNet benefits to consumers and other utilities such as financial, environmental, etc. will be estimated in Stage 2 (Roadmap Development) as part of the final report. Stage 1Objective 1: Report on utility fleet decarbonisation progress and collate best practice and data from partners and stakeholders based on global examples of utility fleet decarbonisation.- Data scope communicated to partners ahead of kick-off.- Minimum data scope (tbc) includes:- Current fleet make up (vehicle category, powertrain, age), operation profile (vehicle use, used for critical operations, duty cycle, base location, annual mileage), parking locations and site-specific data (where do vehicles get parked overnight, what other operations are at the site, site locations), existing plans for decarbonising fleet.- Interviews held with partners and minimum data scope captured.- Form for data submission provided to partners after kick-off.Objective 2: Capture and validation of stakeholder challenges.- Workshop: Data and views from wider stakeholder group captured.Objective 3: Synthesis of outputs from stakeholder engagement and research to establish current state of play and to develop a gap analysis on current progress, challenges, opportunities, barriers.- All key areas and key stakeholder views included in Gap Analysis Report.- Signed off by SSENStage 2Objective 4: Identify areas of innovation and decarbonisation options that might be developed but are not commercially available yet.- Agreement of roadmap information architecture/figures of meritObjective 5: Understand and quantify the potential carbon reduction of decarbonisation options which still meet operational and resilience requirements, cost implications and timelines- Quantification of key intervention impacts via modelling outputs.Objective 6: Synthesise all findings and propose least regret options and key milestones and decision points.- Key areas, key stakeholder, key interventions and key areas of impacts covered.Objective 7: Develop a roadmap that captures and visualises the appropriate interventions, impacts, timelines, stakeholders and cost implications.- Roadmap: Key interventions, impacts decision points and timeline captured.- Signed off by SSEN
Abstract	The aim of the project is to report on the extent to which utilities are on the decarbonisation journey of their vehicle fleetsKey outputs include:-Report on the present-day composition of utility fleet vehicles (mixture of electricity and gas network operators).-Report on vehicle decarbonisation challenges, needs, global logistic trends and options for on-road and off-road vehicles.-Create a roadmap, including a gap analysis and assessment of intervention options to support utility fleet decarbonisationbetween now and 2050.-Roadmap will show what vehicles should be decarbonised and the optimum time to decarbonise them. Decarbonisation optionse.g. electric vehicles vs hydrogen vehicles and cost estimates will also be investigated in order to identify least cost options thatmeet fleet requirements.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	14/10/22