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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number SPT1004
Title Active Network Management with Hydro Generation
Status Completed
Energy Categories Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 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
SP Energy Networks
Award Type LCN Fund Tier 1
Funding Source Ofgem
Start Date 01 March 2012
End Date 31 December 2014
Duration 34 months
Total Grant Value £200,000
Industrial Sectors Power
Region Scotland
Programme Network Operations, Comms & IT
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Project Contact , SP Energy Networks (100.000%)
Web Site http://www.smarternetworks.org/Project/SPT1004
Objectives
The project contains five learning objectives which go beyond the current "business as usual" approach. These include:
  • Analogue control interface with the generator for real (and reactive) power
  • Principles of access as applied to a 'constraint' (as opposed to the principle as applied to a firm/ non-firm connection)
  • Communications methods (e.g. GPRS, line-of-sight packet radio, 3G, etc)
  • Remote voltage measurement (including remote terminal units & communications interfaces)
  • Primary voltage control (e.g. AVC set point or direct tap change control).
Abstract North Wales is an area of significant renewable energy resource, including on-shore and off-shore wind as well as hydro generation. The area in and around Snowdonia is particularly noted for its significant potential for small-scale hydro generation. The area is served by a 'rural' distribution network, characterised mainly by low load density with only a few, long 11kV circuits, which are predominately overhead line construction. Traditional reinforcement methods for such a network to create additional capacity for embedded generation is generally not economically efficient and so such areas are prime candidates for the deployment of Active Network Management (ANM) systems. ANM systems are aimed at maximising the utilisation of the existing distribution network capacity based on real-time network measurements allied with generation power flow management.
The primary network constraint in this example is network voltage. It is proposed that an ANM scheme be deployed on this network to actively manage the output of an existing hydro generator in order for it to utilise the additional generation export capability that is present during periods of higher demand. The ANM scheme will use voltage measurements to calculate in real time if the network has extra generation capacity available. This information will then be used to co-ordinate the output of the generator and other controllable devices.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 27/09/16