The UK has set out clear ambitions for a net zero energy system. Critical to this challenge is ensuring that new generation and low carbon technology can connect to the grid quickly and easily, and at the capacity and volume needed to meet net zero.

In response to this challenge, Regen and the Electricity Storage Network (ESN) have set up a working group for members which provides an opportunity to discuss issues impacting access to the electricity grid, engaging closely with the network operators.

Topics covered by the group include:

• Commitments on connections under RIIO-ED2
• Ofgem’s Access and Forward-Looking Charges Review
• Connection codes and policies for energy storage (e.g. Engineering Recommendation P28)
• Interaction between distribution and transmission network
• Timescales for ANM connections

If you are a member of Regen or the ESN and would like to join this working group, please contact Estelle (elimon@regen.co.uk) to express your interest.

If you are not a member but are interested in finding out more about membership, please find more information here and contact Hannah (hstanley@regen.co.uk) or Estelle (elimon@regen.co.uk) to discuss.

Between 2012 and 2016, SP Energy networks and partners implemented an Active Network Management (ANM) scheme on the Dunbar Grid Supply Point (GSP) to enable four new projects, totalling 50MW of generation, to connect to an export constrained network, and one existing 48 MW windfarm to upgrade from its previous inter-trip constrained connection to an ANM flexible connection.

Regen was commissioned by SP Energy Networks to evaluate what the impact of the ANM scheme had been on the local economy and to explore how ANM could be used to greater effect in our networks as they evolve.

The implementation of ANM at Dunbar led to some clear economic and carbon benefits including:

• enabling total capital investment of an estimated £200m
• the creation of 56 FTE long term jobs
• £75k of community benefits funding per year
• an estimated carbon saving of 98 thousand tonnes.

“Our evaluation clearly shows that ANM is a valuable tool to allow distribution networks to accelerate the deployment of renewable generation in capacity constrained areas, and to unlock the associated carbon savings and economic benefits of these projects. The Dunbar ANM scheme has also made a significant contribution to the continued innovation and development of ANM technologies and processes. ANM based approaches, working alongside other sources of flexibility, could now play an important role to achieve net zero if networks are enabled to take a more proactive role to make strategic network investment.”

Tim Crook, project manager and report author, Regen

“Scotland is currently hosting one of the most important climate summits in recent years. It has given us a stage to show all the work we have done already to move towards net zero and show our commitment to reaching our climate change targets at the pace and scale truly needed.

Our electricity networks are at the heart of this climate ambition; they support the growth of renewables as well as the increase of electric heating and transport. It’s our job to ensure that we are constantly innovating and investing in our network to make sure it stands ready to support the energy transition.

Active Network Management has proved to be an incredibly useful technology to use ahead of our planned multi-billion pound investment in our network to keep increasing the renewable generation Scotland needs. Not only that, but we are proud to be able to show that it can bring significant socio-economic benefits to both the country and directly to the communities it operates in.”

Scott Mathieson, network planning and regulation director, SP Energy Networks

“We were pleased to work with SP Energy networks and their customers in the Dunbar and Berwick areas to deploy our Active Network Management technology to solve the grid capacity challenges there.  It is, therefore, very pleasing to see this evaluation of the many different benefits by Regen.

“Network flexibility in general, but this ANM approach to flexible generator connections in particular, provides the foundation for quicker and less expensive development of clean energy.  Speed, scale, stakeholder inclusivity and cost-effectiveness are all clearly important in the context of the enormous climate challenge we all now face.

“This Dunbar ANM project, and the evidence of positive impact now captured in this report, point the way forward to massive scale clean energy development in accelerated timeframes with benefits to a wide set of stakeholders.  We are also pleased to be working with SP Energy Networks to roll-out this approach to other network areas and also use the same underlying technology to solve other network challenges.”

Euan Davidson, chief technology officer, and the force behind the application of Smarter Grid Solutions ANM in this project

Project duration: April 2018 to November 2018

Cornwall Council is at the forefront of the energy transition and is now looking at innovative approaches to further develop its energy portfolio and to help facilitate economic growth.  On behalf of Cornwall Council, Regen is supporting the development of an energy storage solution at the Aerohub site in Newquay, Cornwall (UK). This location offers several opportunities and options for the development of innovative storage solutions, co-located with solar PV generation and demand customers at the Aerohub. An initial high-level feasibility study showed that there was value from increasing onsite usage of renewable generation and avoiding
peak prices. However, it also showed that additional revenue and/or cost reduction would be needed to enable a viable business in the current market. Following this Cornwall Council was interested in investigating the technical options available in more detail. 

Regen drafted and circulated the prospectus and expression of interest, that outlined an exciting opportunity to work with an innovative Council to develop an energy storage system.

We received an excellent response from the sector by using our knowledge of active companies and existing contact lists. A solar power portal article helped publicise the project to a wider sector audience and a number of companies asked for further information during the process, which was provided if available and approved. We received interest from a total of 23 companies.

Following the prospectus and EoI, further modelling work was undertaken to identify the viability of energy storage at the Aerohub site in August 2019. To accurately assess potential savings, the model uses the latest electricity tariffs alongside half-hourly historical generation and grid import/export data (2018/19) from Kernow Solar park and Newquay Aerohub respectively. The modelling looked at a lithium-ion and redox flow battery options.  

We are continuing to work in partnership with Cornwall Council to confirm suitable next steps and the process for developing the potential energy storage project at the site in question.

If you are interested in finding out more about this work, please contact Olly Frankland ofrankland@regen.co.uk.

Project duration: April 2016 to March 2021

SET-UP aims to improve energy performance in the partner regions with enhanced policies on smart grids.

Regen is an advisory partner on a European funded project to enhance smart grid policies in 6 partner regions with a specific focus on solutions to 3 main challenges to smart grid deployment:

• empowering consumers;
• economic and business models;
  
• investment possibilities for smart network infrastructure.

This is funded by INTERREG IVC European Regional Development Fund.

Further details are available on the project website here.

Regen is an advisory partner on the project, providing briefings on the latest policy changes, giving individual support to project partners on specialist subjects, presenting at project meetings, and communicating best practice in smart grids across the EU.

Recent work has included:

• Organising and managing a partner meeting in London in October 2019, featuring leading companies from the UK: Octopus Energy – head office visit, LEVC and Ubitricity lampost charging demonstration, Electron, Moixa, and PicloFlex. Slides available here.
• Representing the project in INTERREG Europe webinars on e-mobility. The most recent of which was organised in partnership with the SET-UP project and discussed the impact of electric mobility on electricity networks.

If you are interested in finding out more about this work, please contact Olly Frankland ofrankland@regen.co.uk.

Off the back of Regen’s Energy Storage – Towards a Commercial Model paper, as part of our ‘pathways to parity’ series we developed a follow-up publication that focuses on the business model of co-locating storage with generation and demand.

The paper looked at:

• How co-located storage could work technically
• The costs and revenues that could be applicable to storage co-location
• The operating modes of co-located storage assets
• The impact and significance of regulation, DNOs and Government policy

We are also considering the dynamic of ‘behind the meter’ prosumers into the co-location model, i.e. how the co-location of storage, generation and demand may be an optimum scenario to create most benefit and flexibility from storage.

We partnered with Green Hedge, TLT LLP, Triodos Bank and Vattenfall on this publication, which was launched in November 2017.

Download the paper here: Energy Storage: The Next Wave

Led by: Ray Arrell – Senior Project Manager

Contact: rarrell@regen.co.uk

A paper on “Network Charging for a Flexible Future” calling for a broad ranging review of how we charge for the grid, and setting out our views on principles such a review should focus on.

Network Charging For Flexible Future

Published: September 2016

Project duration: March – May 2018

Regen, partnering with energy software company Piclo (formerly Open Utility), published a series of blogs about the development of local flexibility markets.

These blogs can be accessed below:

Part 1 – Local flexibility trials

Part 2 – The benefits of local flexibility for DNOs

Part 3 – The role of a local flexibility market

Part 4 – How a local flexibility trading platform might work

Part 5 – What does local flexibility mean for you?

Project lead: Ray Arrell, Senior Project Manager