Future Network Modelling Functions

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Systems Analysis related to energy R&D (Energy modelling)

Project Contact
Electricity North West Limited

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 March 2016

01 September 2017

18 months

£125,000

Power

North West

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, Electricity North West Limited

To produce a report based on; Identified requirements; Strategic assumptions; Scenario modelling; Summary Analysis; Key risks and dependencies This project will be considered a success upon production and publication of a report on the future requirements for system modelling , including a strategy to meet the requirements using both existing and possibly new technologies

Low carbon technologies and smart grids are asking new, more complex questions of network design and planning. Worst case static load analysis is no longer sufficient with embedded generation, reverse power-flow, time series data, and network solution optimisation now all becoming increasingly relevant. Electricity North West uses models of varying complexity, such as IPSa, DINIS and LV AFFIRM, for planning on our network. These static models operate independently focusing on one voltage level only and individually provide only a limited range of functionality. Learning obtained from innovation projects both in ENW and elsewhere has shown the benefits of modelling across the whole network and has also demonstrated requirements for more advanced techniques, particularly on the LV network, such as 4 wire assessments or harmonic analysis. This project is a research piece to better understand the forward requirements for system modelling, the expected functionality of tools, and the associated data and system architectures. Phase 1 of the project will document the existing challenges/issues/uses around network modelling and identify the new requirements driven by the challenges caused by the introduction of low carbon technologies and the prospect of the role as a distribution system operator. These existing challenges/issues/uses and new requirements will be drawn from the different stakeholders within ENW and will include engineering, IT and business requirements. High level Use Cases will be identified and used to inform the requirements. The output of this phase will be an agreed documented set of as-is and to-be requirements. Phase 2 will continue the development with a strategic assessment based on the findings from Phase 1 whilst recognising the capabilities of recent investments e. g. the new NMS and the general direction of other technologies in the market.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

15/08/18