A research project that will benefit small, renewable generators who want to connect directly to the distribution network, received funding this week from Ofgem.
The
Low carbon Hub is one of four projects awarded a share of £62 million from energy regulator
Ofgem to develop
smart grids that will help the UK reduce its
carbon emissions. It is the first tranche of funding to be awarded under the £500 million
Low Carbon Networks Fund.
In order that the UK can meet its 2020 carbon reduction targets, Ofgem estimates electricity network companies will have to spend £32 billion on updgrading their infrastructure through the introduction of smart grids.
A smart grid is an electricity network that can intelligently integrate the actions of all users connected to it – generators, consumers and those that do both – in order to deliver a sustainable, efficient and secure supply of energy.
Low Carbon Hub
The Low Carbon Hub in East Lincolnshire is being developed by Central Networks to determine how much wind-generated electricity can be connected directly to the electricity network. The project received £2.8 million of funding this week.
Essentially, the Low Carbon Hub is an electricity generating plant connected to a distribution network rather than the transmission network. The project will monitor wind speed, generator output and network conditions. It will benefit small,
renewable generators who want to connect directly to the distribution network thereby helping to deliver savings to customers by allowing more generation to connect at lower cost.
Central Networks said it is working to develop its network in innovative ways to help meet the changing needs of its customers, including those who want to generate their own energy. The Low Carbon Hub provides an opportunity for this, by working with developers to open up the company’s network to facilitate the connection of locally generated power.
"We all rely on the electricity network far more than we realise and the simple truth is that it needs to become smarter to deal with how we will use and generate power in the future," said John Crackett, managing director of Central Networks. "This project will allow us to see how network changes can be best implemented to help a wide range of renewable energy projects in Lincolnshire."
Other projects
Ofgem’s largest award went to a project led by energy distribution firm CE Electric, which will now receive £26.8 million to help roll out British Gas smart meters. These meters can be harnessed to drive
energy saving behaviour and reduce the cost of low carbon technologies, according to CE Electric.
Similarly, a project involving energy distribution firm UK Power Networks as well as EDF Energy, Imperial College, Logica and Transport for London will receive £24.3 million to trial smart grid and electric car charging
technologies across London. The project, Low Carbon London, will support several existing low carbon schemes, such as Transport for London's 'Plugged in Places', which encourages the use of electric cars.
Western Power Distribution in Wales pioneers the final project, which received £7.8 million and is seeking to examine the effect that low carbon technologies have on the network. The trial will help companies become more efficient by allowing them to anticipate network behaviour and know which solutions have already been proven to work well.
Ofgem and an independent panel of energy experts judged the winning projects from a list of 11 proposals based on their potential to set in motion the introduction of smart grids.
"The Low Carbon Networks Fund initiatives prove that the companies are grasping the nettle and seeking innovative ways to meet the challenges that lie ahead," said Stuart Cook, Ofgem’s senior partner for Smarter Grids and Governance.
The successful projects will provide a template for future smart grid technology production with each of the companies involved pledging to share their findings with their customers and peers.
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