Carnot Gas Plant

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Energy storage)
Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SGN

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 April 2023

01 June 2023

2 months

£104,793

Energy

South East

Project Contact, SGN

"ProjectThe project is to develop the technical design and commercial modelling for large scale energy storage and high efficiency gas use via a Carnot Gas Plant (""CGP""), this will be integrated into a heat network to provide cross vector flexibility. This will meet the aims of Innovation Challenge 4 by integrating heat networks for wider energy network management.AimsThe aim is to increase the energy efficiency and decarbonise flexible export via a novel CGP coupled with a heat network. Flexibility provided by multiple modes of operation and improved efficiency helps reduce costs of connecting and operating decarbonised heat.InnovationThe innovation is a CGP which can provide flexibility services to the gas and electricity networks through several modes of operation which can be optimised based on market conditions.The CGP can either:*Convert electricity into stored heat and cryogenic air*Discharge stored heat in a heat network*Efficiently use gas to heat the stored air and Gas can be used to boost the electrical output with heat recovery via a heat networkThe use of Gas Turbines for flexible power production and heat recovery is established, but a significant proportion of the gas input is used to drive the compressor. The CGP has a significantly increased efficiency as a result of removing the compressor load from the point of generation.UsersUser benefits:*Gas peaking owner operators -- The innovation provides equivalent flexibility function as existing gas turbine peaking plant, but at reduced gas consumption volumes.*Heat network owner operators / consumers -- The innovation reduces the cost associated with providing decarbonised heat to consumers.*DNO/ESO -- The innovation provides for various needs such as inertia provision which is not provided by flexible assets (e.g. batteries), balancing services such as frequency response and also black start capability.PartnersSGN are the lead partner, bringing expertise in gas and hydrogen as well as numerous sites in urban areas.Vital Energi are the heat network provider. They are UK market leader in district heating schemes with 83,000 homes connected.Imperial College London will be the academic partner, having developed an integrated whole energy systems (IWES) model.University of Birmingham (UoB) will be an academic partner specialising in phase change material.Glasgow City Council and West Dunbartonshire Council will be Local Government partners."

01/11/23