ETI Invests £8m In Projects To Enable Evolution Of UK's Electricity Distribution Networks
Two £4m projects have been launched by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) which will reduce the impact of faults on electricity distribution networks, helping the growth and increased flexibility of distribution systems, with more low carbon electricity generation installed in the distribution system.
They will also help minimise the costs of upgrading the UK's electricity distribution network over the next 20 to 30 years.
Each project will develop and demonstrate a fault current limiter device, which will reduce the damaging currents resulting from network faults and increase electricity network reliability for the future.
The two projects, part of the ETI's Energy Storage and Distribution Programme, will accelerate the development and demonstration of two of the most promising fault current limiter technologies from around the world.
Ambitious specifications have been set, which exceed the capability of devices currently being demonstrated and which meet the real needs of network operators. Once the devices have been built and independently tested, they will be demonstrated in service on the UK's networks from 2013.
The ETI will assess the benefits of the two devices to understand the optimum deployment opportunities for each device to provide the maximum network benefit.
One project will design, develop and demonstrate a Pre-saturated Core Fault Current Limiter. It will be developed by GridON, based in Tel Aviv, Israel, manufactured by Wilson Transformer Company and will be installed at a UK Power Networks substation in Newhaven, East Sussex.
The other project will design, develop and demonstrate a Resistive Superconducting Fault Current Limiter. It will be developed by Applied Superconductor Ltd, based in Blyth, Northumberland, with technical input from Rolls-Royce, and will be installed on the network at a Western Power Distribution substation in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
E.ON will act as technical consultants on both projects.
Both devices will be demonstrated on the networks for two years.
Faults within electrical power systems are inevitable and can cause stresses on the distribution system equipment. The short-duration currents arising from these faults increase as more energy sources are connected to the UK distribution system.
Existing techniques to manage these fault currents are costly and can have a negative impact on the power quality, stability, reliability and security of supply. Fault current levels are therefore becoming a significant barrier to the installation of low-carbon and other distributed generation. Management of these fault levels is also a key enabler for the growth of smart distribution systems, offering improved operation, flexibility and efficiency.
The projects will address the range of technical applications for active fault current limiters in the UK and elsewhere.
ETI Chief Executive Dr David Clarke said: "Although we hear a lot about the importance of renewable energy sources to the UK's future energy mix, the infrastructure that provides power and heat to people's homes and businesses is also vital.
"These projects will deliver a radical new approach for fault current limiters which will be thoroughly demonstrated on live substations.
"Upgrading the UK electricity distribution network will cost tens of billions of pounds over the next 20-30 years and the devices we will test in these projects will help minimise these costs.
"They should provide reliable, low cost products that will benefit distribution network operators and suppliers of distributed generation equipment as well as consumers who will benefit from a more reliable electricity supply at a time when more energy is generated from renewable sources."
Yoram Valent, Chief Executive of GridON said: "This project has a game changing potential; the holy grail for utilities is a fault current limiter that requires practically no maintenance, no unproven technologies and instantaneous response.
"This would be the first time that such a device is put to the test within the context of a live network, in partnership with some of the world's largest and most advanced and versatile utilities. We are very proud to have been selected by the ETI for this project and we look forward to rapid implementation and successful results."
Herbert Piereder, CEO of Applied Superconductor, said: "This project constitutes an important strategic step in our corporate development. We have so far taken the lead in putting Fault Current Limiters onto distribution networks. We have demonstrated that Superconducting Fault Current Limiters will be a key component of the Smart Grid and have established market credibility for this novel solution through our early project success. Building on this experience and know how we will now develop the next generation Fault Current Limiter which promises superior performance, both technically and commercially." Robert Ferris, Innovation & Development Manager for Western Power Distribution (WPD) said: "WPD is keen to demonstrate this exciting new technology in a real network environment. The use of Fault Current Limiter devices presents us with a great opportunity to enable the cost effective connection of more Distributed Generation on to our network, while allowing us to maximise the operation of our existing assets and further increase the network security for our customers.
"The planned demonstration will be carefully controlled to allow us to safely evaluate the device's capabilities and its operational requirements. If successful, this project will take us one step further towards delivering a low carbon future."
David Openshaw, Head of Future Networks for UK Power Networks, said: "This project forms an important part of our low carbon network innovation portfolio, through which we are trialling the technologies necessary to deliver the flexible distribution networks required in the future.
"Fault Current Limiters offer the prospect of greater network flexibility, which is particularly relevant to our urban networks such as those serving London. This is where we anticipate a much greater contribution from low carbon electricity generation as a direct result of London's decentralised energy policy and ambitious carbon emission reduction targets."
The ETI is a public private partnership between six global industrial companies and the UK Government tasked with developing "mass scale" technologies that will help the UK meet its 2020 and 2050 energy targets. It is concerned with identifying affordable, sustainable and secure energy across heat, power, transport and the infrastructure that links them.
SOURCE: Energy Technologies Institute