EPRI Research Collaboration on Underground Transmission

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
National Grid Electricity Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 January 2014

01 July 2015

18 months

£230,000

Power

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Electricity Transmission

Underground ratings and Increased Power Flow The main objective of this project is to deliver the tools, information, training, and guidance to assess and implement increased and optimized power flow strategies for specific needs, with continued reliability, safety, and public acceptance. Technology Transfer for Underground Transmission The main objective of this project is to provide educational sessions and reference materials on various topics related to the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground transmission systems The success criteria for Underground ratings and Increased Power Flow will be: Reference guide to act as guidance as well as reference and training Development of the Transmission Ratings Workstation and successful testing. The success criteria for Technology Transfer for Underground Transmission will be: Improved knowledge of underground transmission system design options Improved cable project execution Retention and/or transfer of institutional knowledge

The electricity industry faces challenges that National Grid recognises are more cost-effectively and efficiently dealt with through international collaboration initiatives. In particular, challenges whose solutions require statistically diverse data sets and/or significant trialling and testing in different environments, under various conditions and/or diverse ways. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), with its wide international membership, is one of the routes through which these initiatives can be delivered and stakeholder value maximised. This approach of managing collaborative projects is beneficial to National Grid and our customers, providing valuable information, learning and knowledge, which would be more expensive to formulate on an individual basis. This portfolio of work is focused on the challenges of installing transmission infrastructure underground, which address key aspects of National Grid’s Innovation Strategy. This program helps enhance safety, reliability, asset life and performance, as well as prioritize asset investments and allocation of limited resources, all of which are aimed at reducing the cost of putting transmission equipment underground. Of the five Underground Transmission projects, National Grid has identified two of particular value to the GB Transmission system: 1) Underground ratings and Increased Power Flow This project aims to develop software tools and methodologies related to design, engineering, system planning, and operation of underground cables. This project performs the research and development to investigate, assess, and document information on state-of-the-science and best-practices of increasing and optimizing power flow through existing assets. It focuses on underground transmission and is executed in coordination with corresponding projects for overhead lines and substation equipment. 2) Technology Transfer for Underground Transmission This project provides educational sessions and reference materials on various topics related to design, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground transmission systems. Through active engagement, this project assists in transferring EPRI research and development results and industry resources to meet our technical and educational requirements.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

14/08/18