Virtual Power Plant with Artificial Intelligence for Resilience and Decarbonisation (VPP-WARD)

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Energy system analysis)
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting
Systems Analysis related to energy R&D
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy

Dr H Sun
Engineering
Durham University

Standard

EPSRC

01 May 2023

31 January 2026

33 months

£1,845,327

Info. & commun. Technol.

North East

Technology Missions Fund

Dr H Sun, Engineering, Durham University

Dr G Aujla, Computer Scienc, Durham University
Dr H Du, Mathematical Sciences, Durham University
Dr A Faramarzi, Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham
Dr J Jiang, University of Bristol
Dr A Jindal, Computer Scienc, Durham University
Dr B Kazemtabrizi, Engineering, Durham University
Dr A Kiprakis, Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh
Dr D Kirli, Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh
Dr M Mahmud, Fac of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University
Dr PC Matthews, Engineering, Durham University
Dr N Metje, Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham
Dr AS Osman, Engineering, Durham University
Dr M Shahbazi, Engineering, Durham University
Professor S Tsaftaris, Sch of Engineering and Electronics, University of Edinburgh
Professor S Xiao, Management and Marketing, Durham University

Project Contact, CFMS Services Limited
Project Contact, National Grid plc
Project Contact, Northern Powergrid
Project Contact, Durham County Council
Project Contact, Det Norske Veritas DNV GL UK Limited
Project Contact, Kinewell Energy
Project Contact, Mithrasol ltd
Project Contact, Northumbrian Water Ltd
Project Contact, Siemens plc (UK)
Project Contact, TNEI Services Limited
Project Contact, Equinor UK Ltd

Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) are small, modular energy generation and storage units, e.g., wind turbines, photovoltaics, batteries, and electric vehicles, that could be connected directly to the power distribution network. DERs play a critical role in achieving Net Zero. Presently there are over 1 million homes with solar panels in the UK. With the green energy transition well under way in the UK, by 2050 there could be tens of millions of DERs connected to the UK power grid.Although DERs have many benefits, e.g., a reduced carbon footprint and improved energy affordability, they present complex challenges for network operators (e.g., low DER visibility, bi-directional power flow, and voltage anomalies), creating a major barrier to Net Zero. Meanwhile, natural hazards and extreme events are an increasing threat not only to humans but also power grid resilience - a direct impact is the power cuts, e.g., Storms "Dudley", "Eunice" and "Franklin" in February 2022 left over a million homes without electricity.How best to manage millions of DERs is still an open question, especially for improving the grid resilience to natural hazards and extreme events, e.g., storms and heatwaves. This project will develop innovative physics-informed Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for enabling Virtual Power Plants (VPP), capable of aggregating and managing many diverse DERs; not only improving decision-making for network operators but also enhancing the grid resilience to natural hazards and extreme events. These could also lead to reduced energy bills for millions of UK energy consumers, less power cuts during extreme events, to greater adoption and more efficient management of DERs, and ultimately to enable rapid progress towards Net Zero.

03/05/23