Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_SPEN_0078 | |
| Title | Security of Supply for Vulnerable Consumers (SSVC) | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Demographics) 50%; Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 50%; |
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| 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 (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact No email address given SPEN - SP Distribution Plc |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 August 2022 | |
| End Date | 28 February 2023 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £169,500 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Power | |
| Region | Scotland | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , SPEN - SP Distribution Plc (100.000%) |
| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , SP Energy Networks (0.000%) |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_SPEN_0078 |
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| Objectives | A structured and innovative approach to solving this problem shall be taken by identifying the technology and hardware solutions that can support consumers with critical reliance on electricity and communications supplies in different loss of supply scenarios. The solution shall also support networks customer service and front-line response teams to effectively plan and respond to these needs. A stage-gate review will be conducted following phase 1 of the project, to assess the technology and application viability. The project will be delivered via two parallel workstreams:1. Technology DevelopmentThe Technology Development phase shall be split into three parts as described below.a. Technology identification: during this phase an understanding of the scenarios that lead to technological solutions being required and the impacts on consumers based on living situations and vulnerability factors shall be developed. Technologies capable of reinstating power supplies and telecommunications shall be identified and scenario response plans shall be developed.Stage-gate review 1: A review of phase 1 of the project will be conducted to assess the idetified technology prior to progressing to phase 2 (laboratory testing).b. Laboratory testing: the shortlisted technologies shall be tested and validated in a realistic laboratory environment, incorporating input from key stakeholders involved in emergency response.c. Scenario response plan: Following testing, scenario response plans shall be produced outlining the technologies to be applied in the case of certain electricity and communications downtime occurring. 2. Integrated Decision Support ApplicationThis workstream shall be conducted in parallel including the following activities.a. User requirements: this task will aim to understand details of what will bring the most benefit from the decision support application and identify the key features to be developed in the following stages.Stage-gate review 1: A review of phase 1 of the project will be conducted to assess the application viability prior to progressing to phase 2 (application development).b. Application development: development of the integrated decision support capability.c. User testing: this time will be used to refine and fix any bugs that may become apparent during the testing. Technology Development: Research, testing and scenario planning of the solutions and hardware required to safeguard consumers with critical risk factors. Both electrical supply and communications reinstatement shall be considered.Integrated Decision Support Application Development: Development of an integrated software application to help enable effective decision-making during loss of supply. The objective of this project is to identify, test and develop a solution that incorporates both hardware and integrated decision support capability to enable a rapid response to restoration of energy supplies for vulnerable consumers. Key aspects include:Identify the hardware that is most suited to different customer needs and scenarios for reinstating both power and communications.Test the hardware and communications reinstatement technology in a laboratory environment under realistic reinstatement scenarios.Develop and user-test an integrated decision support tool that helps customer service and operational teams select the right hardware to be used in different scenarios. | |
| Abstract | There is an opportunity to improve the current method of capturing and actioning on vulnerable customers needs in both planned and unplanned system outages. Security of Supply for Vulnerable Consumers (SSVC) aims to identify and test applicable technologies as part of a system and communication restoration and develop a technology/scenario support tool to enable effective decision-making during loss of supply incidents. Planning to respond and protect the most vulnerable consumers following either planned (for example for maintenance) or unplanned (for example due to storm damage) system outages is a challenging process that relies heavily on staff expertise, local knowledge and manual data processing. This situation means that, despite best efforts, some consumers may be left without energy supplies and communications for periods of time that can lead to emergency situations. | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 14/10/22 | |
