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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number NGETEN03
Title Enhanced Frequency Control Capability (EFCC)
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
National Grid Electricity Transmission
Award Type Network Innovation Allowance
Funding Source Ofgem
Start Date 01 January 2015
End Date 01 March 2018
Duration ENA months
Total Grant Value £9,344,000
Industrial Sectors Power
Region London
Programme
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (100.000%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , National Grid plc (0.000%)
Web Site https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NGETEN03
Objectives The Great Britain (GB) electricity system is undergoing huge change, with decarbonisation resulting in increasing volumes of renewable and small-scale generation. One of the key areas challenges resulting from this is the impact on the ability to control system frequency.
Abstract Meeting UK carbon reduction targets will result in a significant increase in the volume of renewables. This will reduce system inertia, giving rise to an increase in the volume and speed of frequency response requirements. Under existing arrangements this increased response requirement is anticipated to see the cost of controlling frequency increase by £200m-£250m per annum by 2020. To mitigate this increase in cost to the end consumer it will be necessary to develop new, significantly faster response solutions utilising renewables, demand side resources, and other new technologies in a coordinated manner. The successful implementation of this project can result in savings of £150m-£200m per annum by 2020. The objective of this project is to develop and demonstrate an innovative new monitoring and control system which will obtain accurate frequency data at a regional level, calculate the required rate and volume of very fast response and then enable the initiation of this required response. This system will then be used to demonstrate the viability of obtaining rapid response from new technologies such as solar PV, storage and wind farms. The new system will also be used to demonstrate the coordination of fast response from demand side resources (DSR), and fast start up from thermal power plants. Utilising the output of this trial, a fully optimised and coordinated model will be developed which ensures the appropriate mix of response is utilised. This will support the development of an appropriate commercial framework prior to full roll out. New generation technologies are required to facilitate the carbon agenda. EFCC will enable these to contribute to resolving the challenges associated with the change in the generation mix, without imposing increased risk on the security of the system. This will provide commercial incentives and ensure these new technologies can effectively compete with existing technologies in the ancillary service market. There is no provision for trialling the EFCC concept as business as usual.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 26/10/22