Harmonic compliance management

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 September 2018

01 September 2019

ENA months

£131,400

Power

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Electricity Transmission

Project Contact, National Grid plc

The proposed method to solve this problem is to review and challenge the harmonic compliance management policy that has been adopted by the energy industry in the UK. This project will undertake a desktop based study to review the existing practices and propose new approaches to harmonic management. The value from the different approaches will be assessed based on the foreseen benefits to consumers and the wider industry. The project has the following scope:1. Harmonic Compliance Management Option Analysis and Consumer Benefits1.1 Review the existing approach to managing harmonic compliance including a review of how risks and liabilities are allocated.1.2 Review best practice from around the world in harmonic compliance management.1.3 Explore and propose alternative options for managing harmonic compliance; including the identification of pros and cons for each option.1.4 Assess benefits to consumers and connectees.1.5 Propose risk and (liability) sharing mechanisms associated with the recommended option if different from the existing approach.1.6 Provide typical harmonic filter unit costs for 400 kV, 275 kV and 132 kV voltage levels.2. Evaluation of Funding Options2.1 Propose funding options including the identification of risks to key stakeholders, commercial and regulatory issues.3. Incentive Strategies3.1 Develop and propose an incentive strategy for connectees to minimize their harmonic impact on transmission and distribution networks, whilst also benefiting consumers and enabling low carbon technologies.4. Review Required Modifications to Existing Standards E.g. Grid Code4.1 For the proposed harmonic management options, the associated standards and codes will be reviewed and areas which would require modification highlighted The objectives for this project are:1. To evaluate other options for managing harmonic compliance and compare these to the existing arrangement(s) and to establish an understanding of the consumer benefits.2. To propose a transparent, simple and consistent technical, commercial and regulatory framework for managing harmonic compliance that considers the changing energy environment and that facilitates low carbon connections.

Harmonic compliance management is based on the “polluter” being responsible for “cleaning” or minimizing voltage distortion. This can lead to the consumer paying for large filters for each polluter on the network, while these are only required in very unlikely scenarios. The current approach also makes it difficult to maintain compliance in a rapidly changing energy environment, where it may be difficult to attribute responsibility to an individual. The proposed method to solve this problem is to review and challenge the harmonic compliance management policy that has been adopted by the energy industry in the UK. This project will undertake a desktop based study to review the existing practices and propose new approaches to harmonic management. The value from the different approaches will be assessed based on the foreseen benefits to consumers and the wider industry.

02/12/22