Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | ENA_10036946 | |
| Title | Network-DC Circuit Breakers | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy) 75%; Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution) 25%; |
|
| 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 National Grid Electricity Transmission |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 August 2022 | |
| End Date | 01 February 2023 | |
| Duration | 6 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £491,905 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Power | |
| Region | London | |
| Programme | ||
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (99.999%) |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , SSEN Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (0.001%) |
|
| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , National Grid plc (0.000%) Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (0.000%) |
|
| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/ENA_10036946 |
|
| Objectives | ||
| Abstract | The whole system innovation challenge requires coordination of design to reduce duplication and complexity of networks to deliver an integrated system capable of providing net-zero electricity generation. This project supports the coordination of offshore and onshore networks, with the potential to reduce infrastructure, thus improving delivery time and reducing costs, and improving network reliability. Users include offshore wind developers; National Grid ESO; and the Offshore and Onshore Transmission Owners and Operators managing the interface between DC and AC circuits. DCCBs enable broader network strategic changes, primarily the establishment of onshore HVDC hubs, which will be needed given the requirement to rapidly expand offshore wind as a clean energy supply for the UK. The goal of the project is to complete the work necessary to allow the selection of DCCBs as an option in network design.DCCBs are developing technology with limited information available from the first implementations in China, thus there is a significant risk in adopting the technology. Given the number of stakeholders involved in these first applications, de-risking the first implementation in the UK is significantly complex. The Discovery project has evaluated the cost and critical activities of de-risking necessary to support the first implementation in the UK. Allowing this enabling technology to be available as a viable option for coordinated and efficient grid infrastructure is key to delivering secure, reliable, and clean energy to consumers at the lowest possible cost.The Alpha Phase of the project will coordinate between networks, generators, market participants, investors, local and national policymakers. This phase will: refine costing and value estimation; identify design efficiency; use the results of DCCB simulation to inform the tender specification; and engage the supplier community around an initial UK-focused efficient specification to de-risk the first implementation. This approach will reduce the duplication of efforts from different stakeholders by working to de-risk across the full stakeholder map in one coordinated effort, focusing on a relevant and specific use case. Learning from the use case will be disseminated to support future projects. The work packages set out for Alpha Phase will address the areas that the users of DCCBs have identified as necessary to reduce the barrier to entry for DCCB technologies in the UK system. Therefore, this phase will bring increased detail and reduced uncertainty to the cost-benefit case, take the early steps towards Front End Engineering Design (FEED), as defined in the Discovery Phase recommendations, and establish a case for market development for UK-ready solutions. Beta Phase will deliver FEED in preparation for DCCBs installed after 2030.The consortium includes five of the partners from the Discovery Phase, and the addition of SuperGrid as a new partner. The partners have been selected based on their expertise and detailed understanding of stakeholders needs concerning their work package. SSEN-T is a Network Owner and familiar with the design of networks and runs the National HVDC Centre, a centre of excellence for HVDC. National Grid ESO is accountable for the overall strategy for the design of the future network, including the integration of DC grids. SuperGrid bring international experience of the design and testing of DCCBs and also have capabilities testing. The Carbon Trust, Renewable UK and National Grid Ventures and have expertise in regulation and policy and also represent key stakeholder groups. National Grid Ventures is connected with stakeholder groups interested in investing in network development. The University of Edinburgh brings technical electrical engineering expertise and have detailed knowledge of open-source DCCB models that can be used in simulation. | |
| Publications | (none) |
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| Final Report | (none) |
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| Added to Database | 14/10/22 | |
