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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number NIA_NGET0180
Title EPRI Research Collaboration on Electric & Magnetic Fields Health & Safety (P60) 2016
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 2016
End Date 01 June 2017
Duration 17 months
Total Grant Value £4,076,190
Industrial Sectors Power
Region London
Programme Network Innovation Allowance
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Project Contact , National Grid Electricity Transmission (100.000%)
Web Site http://www.smarternetworks.org/project/NIA_NGET0180
Objectives The purpose of EMF and RF Health Assessment and Safety EPRI program is to provide the following outputs: timely, reliable EMF and RF scientific research results, communication materials, relevant background information, and analyses of key external studies; publicly accessible, up-to-date information on EMF and RF research, health risk evaluations, and regulatory actions; experimental and epidemiologic research investigating high-priority residential and occupational EMF and RF health and safety questions; EMF Workstation software for modelling T&D infrastructure EMF in residential and occupational settings; EMF and RF exposure characterization research and exposure assessment software; educational materials, including instructional EMF/RF DVDs, tutorials, and RF safety awareness training; comprehensive assessment of the potential effects of EMF on aquatic life from submerged cables; and investigation of potential EMF interaction with implanted medical devices The overall project comprises multiple strands of work. Progress should be expected on each strand during 2016, but not necessarily that each strand would be completed or produce significant publications. The success criteria are that most, if not all, the milestones listed under Scope above should be achieved.
Abstract National Grid recognises that there are parallel challenges within the field of electricity transmission globally which are more economically investigated and addressed through collaborative learning and knowledge generation among key industry stakeholders. The Electric Power Research Institution (EPRI), with its wide international membership, plays a valuable role in identifying and delivering innovation projects aimed at addressing many of the challenges faced by electricity industry participants, including Transmission Network Owners and System Operators. This portfolio of work is focused on research into the effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) and seeks to address key aspects of National Grid’s Innovation Strategy and an area of particular interest and concern to customers and other stakeholders with an interest in, or affected by, electricity transmission infrastructure. New Transmission and Distribution construction (including the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure) and capacity upgrades, and scientific reports and the publicity surrounding them, can create public concerns about possible human health risks from electric and magnetic field (EMF) exposures. Such concerns can lead to lengthy delays for new projects, and possibly cause regulatory decisions that affect project schedules and costs, and jeopardise public acceptability of existing infrastructure. Revisions to guidelines for public and worker EMF exposures could result in altered exposure limits with consequential constraints on operations and extra costs. EPRI is a non-profit organization which facilitates a variety of research projects relating to substations within the electricity industry. These collaborative projects bring together scientists, engineers and academic experts in the industry to help assess recognised challenges within the field. EPRI’s approach in 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. By participating in a given project, National Grid not only contributes resource to the work and receives results, but also is able to influence the detailed content and priorities of the project, through attendance at steering groups (known as "Area Councils"). In the course of its 2015 membership of the EPRI EMF Program, national Grid has consciously become more active in the management and direction of the program, for example, being proactive and influential over changes to the management personnel. On an annual basis National Grid’s asset and system specialists review the portfolio of proposed projects for the coming year that have been identified by the expert task forces at EPRI as being of common value to members. This annual portfolio review includes an overview of the project’s research value, the approach and alignment of objectives with the needs of and priorities specifically for the GB Electricity Transmission Network. Each project that is selected for National Grid to participate in is further reviewed and ultimately approved by a panel of representatives from across the main directorates within National Grid. This review has identified that membership of P60, the EMF program, in 2016 will continue to be of value. Associated with this program are the following research projects. The project is organised in formal termsas five sub-projects: EMF and RF Information Project - Project P60. 001Health Studies Related to EMF From Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure - Project P60. 002EMF Workstation - Project P60. 003EMF and RF Exposure Assessment Related to Emerging Technologies - Project P60. 004EMF and RF Occupational Health - Project P60. 005Whilst all of these are valuable to us, this structure disguises the fact that P60. 002 and P60. 005 each comprise a number of strands of work and it is in these that the bulk of the effort and benefit relates.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 14/08/18