Northern Powergrid has kicked off the next phase of its upgrade programme that will eventually see thousands of its substations modernised to create “the backbone of a smart grid” fit for the future of its network.
In January the distribution network operator (DNO) unveiled its £83 million Smart Grid Enablers plan, setting out to upgrade more than 8,000 substations by 2023 in what the company called the most comprehensive network upgrade programme in the UK.
Having recently completed a proof of concept phase, the DNO will now invest £15 million in the next generation of substation controllers to be installed at more than 860 locations.
Beginning this month, the Smart Substations project will see Northern Powergrid replace substation Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) equipment to establish a ‘modern platform’ to futureproof the network for the next generation of smart grid technologies.
The RTU acts as an interface to the electrical plant within a substation, bringing together alarms, plant status and analogue data such as voltage, current and power information and communicated to control engineers via the Network Management System.
It directs the digital control commands from the control engineer to operate equipment within the substation, while also providing the platform for more advanced control schemes within the substation.
The technology was proved out by the DNO, which is working with ZIV Automation UK on the Smart Substations project. The RTU technology was tested at Northern Powergrid’s Control Centres in the North East and Yorkshire, with the technology installated, tested and commissioned to the live network at Beeston Royds, Dunkeswick, Chirton Grange and Wansbeck substations.
The next phase will provide a platform for developing further substation functionality, ensuring maximum return on investment.
Mark Nicholson, head of smart grid implementation at Northern Powergrid, said: “This is a significant and technically challenging operation drawing on many of our highly specialist technical functions across the business – it has been an impressive team effort between Northern Powergrid and ZIV Automation UK Ltd to get us to this stage.
“The advantage at the end of this work will be infrastructure that will enable us to operate our network in a more flexible way to deliver more value for our customers through smarter, more efficient and cost-effective services.”
As part of the Smart Enablers project, the initiative is helping to underpin the company’s transition into a Distribution System Operator (DSO) by providing a platform to roll out smart solutions to actively manage a network with complex and unpredictable power flows.
It is also supporting the region’s ambitions to put low-carbon technology at the centre of its economy, enabling solutions that Northern Powergrid says could save up to £500 million by 2031.
