What is it about?
There're several electricity network interventions and deploy-able technologies that can reduce electrical losses in electricity distribution networks, but how effective are they technically and economically? We used the Isle of Wight, UK, electricity distribution network as a test bed to explore the technical and cost effectiveness of each electrical-losses-reduction solution, assessed against a business-as-usual network operating case.
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Photo by Giorgio Tomassetti on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Electrical losses represent about 6% of the total energy transmitted in the Great Britain (GB) distribution system; these losses currently cost around £1 billion a year and account for 1.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. Distribution Network Operators (DNO) in the GB are obliged to design and operate their networks efficiently, and participate in reducing the carbon footprint of their operations, thus helping reduce cost to customers and the GB and UK reach its carbon reduction targets by 2020. Traditionally, GB DNOs have reduced losses through long-term asset management, replacing end of life assets with energy efficient equipment; with the introduction of the EU's Eco-design Directive 2009/125/EC in 2009, this has become mandatory. In addition, the GB's gas and electricity regulator ‘Ofgem’, recognizing the importance of network loss reduction, stipulated the DNOs to reduce losses to “to keep losses as low as reasonably practicable” from April 2015. Some electrical-losses-reduction technologies are better than others. A solution that is the most effective in reducing the electrical losses may not always be the most optimal solution; particularly, when the consequential disruption and cost burden of implementing that solution must be borne by the electricity users. Therefore, it's important to identify solutions that are both technically and economically effective and optimal for both the electricity users and DNOs.
Perspectives
Research I undertook with my co-authors here was by far the most thorough electricity network losses investigation work I undertook until the time of this publication. I didn't expect, until later into the project, that the Transformer Auto Stop Start electrical-losses-reduction solution would stand out as the most optimal solution (technically and economically speaking)—a clear underdog, I thought, turned out to be a top-dog! The utility partner on the project submitted a “Low Energy Automated Networks (LEAN)” hardware demonstration project proposal for £3 million to the GB electricity regulator, OFGEM, to test the Transformer Auto Stop Start and Meshed Network electrical-losses-reduction solutions in the field during the period 2015-19. These methods could save over 31 GWh of electricity over 45 years, worth over £40m to GB electricity customers and 6.4 kt of CO2 to GB. The project was formally approved by Ofgem on December 19th, 2014.
Dr. Sarat Chandra Vegunta
Siemens Industry, Inc.
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Electrical Losses Reduction in the UK Isle of Wight 11 kV Distribution Network—Case Study, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, November 2016, Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE),
DOI: 10.1109/tpwrs.2015.2511452.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Low Energy Automated Networks (LEAN) Project
Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) Limited's LEAN project page.
OFGEM's Low Carbon Networks Fund (LCNF) - LEAN Project Direction
OFGEM's conditions for funding the project.
LCNF Submission from SSEPD for LEAN Project
LEAN project funding request submission documents.
LEAN Project Literature Review and Technical Recommendations Report
The report summarizes a comprehensive review of electricity distribution related losses, the Transformer Auto Start Stop scheme technical feasibility assessment, and technical recommendations for the project.
Contributors
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