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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	NIA_UKPN0065
Title	Cleaner Engines
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Applications for heat and electricity) 100%;
Research Types	Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields	BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science) 20%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 80%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator	Project Contact No email address given UK Power Networks
Award Type	Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source	Ofgem
Start Date	01 October 2020
End Date	01 October 2022
Duration	ENA months
Total Grant Value	£433,000
Industrial Sectors	Power
Region	London
Programme	Network Innovation Allowance
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Project Contact , UK Power Networks (100.000%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , UK Power Networks (0.000%)
Web Site	https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_UKPN0065
Objectives	The lessons learned from SSEN showing hybrid generators run efficiently and reduce noise especially at night will be extended to explore the use of alternative fuels such as Biofuel e.g. Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and glycerine. The project will work with identified suppliers to design and demonstrate a number of different hybrid generators using alternative fuels. This will include: converting small 6kW diesel powered mobile generators into a 10kVA hybrid running on biofuel; designing a LPG fuelled hybrid generator and managing LPG as a fuel; and designing a glycerine fuelled three-phase hybrid generator based on the technology developed for Formula E racing to avoid recharging race-cars using a diesel-fuelled generator.Storage and handling of glycerine, LPG and other fuels will be an integral part of the success to Net Zero. The use of a dedicated bowser and intermediate bulk containers will need procedures developed for safe handling of fuels.  Each unit will be deployed whenever a mobile generator is required and comparisons on performance, efficiency, reliability, customer responses, CO2 and NOx emissions to help UK Power Networks make the right decisions in reducing our carbon footprint down the Net Zero path. Using the functional specification for alternative temporary power solutions, i.e. hybrid unit, the project will demonstrate a number of alternative fuelled options: • Convert two 6kW diesel powered mobile generator into a 10kVA hybrid running on biofuel;• Design and operate two LPG fuelled hybrid generator and two three-phase glycerine fuelled hybrid generators; and• Compare and contrast the performance, efficiency, reliability, customer responses, CO2 and NOx emissions to help UK Power networks make the right decisions in reducing our carbon footprint down the net zero path.The project will also develop the storage and handling procedures for large volumes of these alternative fuels. These procedures will be demonstrated in a depot hosting the alternative fuelled hybrid generators. This project will inform customer acceptance of non-fossil fuelled hybrid generators, especially customers who have invested in Low Carbon Technologies . The project will: • design, build and operate a number of alternative fuelled hybrid generators to deliver part of our CO2 and NOx emission reduction targets;• monitor the hybrid generators and analyse the results to determine which options deliver optimum benefits;• publish storage and handling procedures for large volumes of these alternative fuels; and• inform the Green Action Plan to facilitate UK Power Networks strategy to reduce the dependency on diesel.
Abstract	Following the work carried out by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) deploying single phase hybrid generators using diesel fuel, as part of UK Power Networks Green Action Plan this project seeks to further identify opportunities to reduce the use of diesel as a fuel. As alternative fuels get introduced, UK Power Networks needs to understand the supply chain, e.g. availability and how they should be safely stored and handled, current legislation, etc.It is possible the use of diesel fuelled generators will be banned in Central London. The project will allow all DNOs to understand what measures need to be put in place to reduce their dependency on diesel.
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	02/11/22