SUPERGEN 1 Renewal Core - FlexNet: Renewal of the Supergen consortium on Future Network Technologies

Completed

Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electricity transmission and distribution)

Basic and strategic applied research

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy

Professor J McDonald
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
University of Strathclyde

Standard

EPSRC

01 October 2007

30 March 2012

54 months

£6,876,795

Electrical engineering

Scotland

Energy -- Energy Research Capacity

Professor J McDonald, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde

Professor R Aggarwal, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath
Dr O Anaya-Lara, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Prof GA Ault, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Prof KRW Bell, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Professor JW Bialek, Engineering, Durham University
Dr GM Burt, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Prof P Devine-Wright, Geography, University of Exeter
Dr RW Dunn, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath
Dr SJ Finney, Institute for Energy and Environment, University of Strathclyde
Professor RJ Green, Business School, Imperial College London
Professor T Green, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London
Professor GP Harrison, Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh
Professor N Jenkins, Engineering, Cardiff University
Mr C Johnstone, Mechanical Engineering, University of Strathclyde
Prof M Leach, Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey
Dr J Mutale, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester
Professor DMG Newbery, Economics, University of Cambridge
Dr B Pal, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London
Dr MA Redfern, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath
Professor G Strbac, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London
Professor V Terzija, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, University of Manchester
Professor R Wallace, Energy Systems, University of Edinburgh
Dr H Wang, Sch of Engineering and Design, Brunel University

Project Contact, Rolls-Royce PLC
Project Contact, Scottish Power Ltd
Project Contact, National Grid plc
Project Contact, EDF Energy

FlexNet has been set the goal of researching the future form of the electricity network. This is a great challenge because electricity networks are formed from long lifetime equipment that will often be in place for more than 50 years and which costs a great deal to replace. Much of the UK network was constructed in the 1960s and 1970s and falls due for replacement soon. This is both an opportunity and a threat. The plans for replacement must stand the test of time or future generations will face a large bill for making changes. We are at a point where the future of electricity generation is uncertain. We know that low-carbon energy is the objective but the network required to support offshore wind is very different from the network to support domestic-scale fuel cells. The key will be to plan, design and build networks that are sufficiently flexible to meet several quite different scenarios. There are limits to the flexibility though. First, flexibility generally requiresmore investment for which electricity consumers ultimately pay. Second, electrical networks are major projects that impact local communities and those communities have important views on what technology is acceptable. Third, flexibility calls for a far greater level of real-time control of the network which poses challenges in analysis and implementation. FlexNet will research the technologies to provide flexibility, the market mechanisms through which investment is encouraged efficientlyandthe way in which public attitudes might shape what can be done.FlexNet is a consortium of universities, electrical network operators, equipment manufacturers and NGOs. The seven universities combine expertise in electrical engineering, economics and social science. The consortium builds on the work of its predecessor, FutureNet

01/01/07