Erik Christian presents an electricity sector business challenge and a compelling solution to overcome it
New carbon emission targets are driving considerable changes around how electricity is generated, transported and consumed in the UK. With the increase in small-scale generation technology onto the network, distribution network operators (DNOs) are met with great challenges to facilitate a future low-carbon network.
As one of seven DNOs in the UK, Western Power Distribution (WPD) is at the heart of this changing dynamic. Responsible for delivering electricity to the Midlands, South Wales and the South West, WPD is a critical DNO, delivering electricity to more than 7.8 million customers over a 55,500km2 service area.
To increase real-time visibility, WPD is installing Tollgrade’s LightHouse smart grid sensors on its overhead electric lines to monitor load at different points of its 11kV networks and create an energy model that provides a forecast for near real-time and future energy scenarios. The deployment is part of the Flexible Approaches to Low Carbon Optimised Networks (FALCON) project, a £16 million Ofgem-funded programme that aims to improve the industry’s understanding of infrastructure needs in a low-carbon environment. FALCON is focusing on the Milton Keynes network to identify how DNOs could increase capacity without resorting to traditional reinforcement. Part of the project involves monitoring of overhead lines, to look at real-time impacts of environmental conditions and load conditions, in order to identify additional capacity.
Solution overview
Tollgrade supplied its LightHouse platform to WPD as part of the FALCON project. The platform is made up of medium voltage (MV) smart grid sensors for overhead lines that measure voltage, current and power (real, reactive and apparent) up to 69kV. It combines highly accurate sensor technology with Predictive Grid analytics software that monitors overhead lines and assets to deliver real-time intelligence about how the grid is operating. This allows DNOs to react quickly by making decisions they couldn’t evaluate before they had access to this type of data. The end solution allows DNOs to run their grids more efficiently and reliably.The LightHouse MV sensor products are easy to install on overhead lines. The sensors communicate data back to LightHouse sensor management system (SMS) software in configurable time intervals to provide near real-time alerts and trending data.
Tollgrade believes that the sensors offer many benefits over alternative solutions. Firslty, they are extremely lightweight (2.7kg) and easy to install. Tollgrade holds the design patent for the way its sensors clamp onto the line so that DNOs need only use the hot-stick once. There is no need for the DNO to take an outage during installation.
Sensors are inductively powered from the line; they require no batteries or solar panels and have a mean time before failure (MTBF) of 20 years. They are 100% maintenance-free and require no field calibration. Another advantage is that the sensors operate in low current environments; there is no need to worry charging batteries or losing data.
GSM sensors allow for easy installation of the DNO’s own subscriber identity module (SIM) cards and require no pol- mounted equipment. There is no need to take equipment apart, simply plug the SIM card into the sensor through the external port.
Sensors are installed on the grid; not at a consumer’s house. There is no impact or action required by the consumer to get energy efficiency benefits.
Finally, with the LightHouse platform, DNOs are more informed to make better network decisions.
How it works
Once the sensors are placed on overhead lines, they immediately begin to monitor load capacity and report key data (eg, load and fault current) to help tell WPD how its 11 kV networks and assets (e.g. transformers, overhead cables and switch gear) are operating. By knowing how the network is performing on a real-time basis, WPD can push its network to run more efficiently and free up capacity rather than build out new infrastructure.
This data is also sent to WPD’s scenario investment model (SIM), which gives the DNO options for reinforcement of its grid over the next five, 10 or 15 years when looking at network modelling. The data also helps WPD make the right decisions for the part of the network being monitored to help postpone, or even eliminate, reinforcing.
As part of the FALCON project, WPD is running trials in Milton Keynes and using dynamic asset rating (DAR) to learn more about assets. Tollgrade’s sensors are playing a key role in these projects. By knowing simple monitoring data such as wind speed, environmental conditions, wind direction, ambient temperature combined with the sensor data, WPD can make decisions about the remaining capacity of its 11kV network. These decisions can have a direct and positive impact on consumers’ overall energy bills.
The business case
The whole purpose of monitoring is to be better informed about the distribution network. The more that is known about how the grid is actually performing with real sensor data, the more WPD can see if it is possible to postpone reinforcement efforts or perhaps better combine them with other techniques that can ultimately defer costly investment. As the sensors alleviate the need to build new capacity with real-time monitoring, WPD can continue to work to keep consumer costs down.
Delivery network
Ben Godfrey, innovation and low carbon networks engineer at WPD, comments: “Our distribution network is the backbone of how we deliver electricity to homes and businesses. Leveraging proven technologies such as LightHouse allows us to improve our real-time visibility of the distribution grid for the first time.” He adds: “We selected Tollgrade’s LightHouse platform because it provides us with better information for network planning, which will help us improve grid reliability and enable the transition to a low-carbon future.”
Erik Christian is vice president of Smart Grid at Tollgrade.
