Working with SP Energy Networks, Regen has produced a report on the future role of Active Network Management (ANM) as a technology solution that could, when applied in network constraint areas, help to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technology.
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.
Our evaluation showed that 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 term4 jobs, £75k of community benefits funding per year and an estimated carbon saving of 98 thousand tonnes.
Using learnings from the Dunbar GSP trial, the report considers how ANM might evolve and add value in the coming years in the context of the emergent role of Distribution System Operator functions, third party flexibility solutions, wider regulatory changes and ambitious timescales to decarbonise the entire electricity system.