UK Power Networks (Operations) Limited

Traditional reserve power systems that support critical infrastructure, such as telecoms equipment, use fossil fuels, such as diesel generators, which will be replaced by batteries as they are decarbonised. This will in turn increase demand on the local electricity network. Research from the University of Reading estimates there is over 2GWh of backup pow...

Traction Bulk Supply Points are large capacity grid connections designed to support peak demand on the rail traction system. Because traction power is typically very peaky in nature this capacity is not optimally utilised. Installing battery storage facilities at traction BSPs and unlocking connection agreements to enable two-way dynamic flow could shift ...

Rural communities face challenges in decarbonising heating systems are more vulnerable to climate change impacts and more likely to be Worst Served Customers (WSCs). Decarbonising these areas could increase electricity demand, exacerbating resilience issues, especially for WSC. Strengthening the electricity network in these areas would be expensive and ta...

Electricity demand from heating could quadruple by 2050 to over 100TWh per year, almost a third of GB's current annual electricity demand. Hot Chips will demonstrate how data centre surplus heat could reduce the energy demand of district heat (DH) networks and explore how DNOs and data centres can work collaboratively to decarbonise DH networks. Using wat...

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Energy efficiency retrofits rolled out by Local Authorities (LAs) and Social Housing Providers (SHPs), such as home insulation and storage heating, represent an opportunity to procure flexibility from disadvantaged households that are typically not able to participate in flexibility markets. Flex Direct aims to develop a new way to procure this type of fl...

Heat pumps are essential for reducing the UK's building emissions, but their widespread use could strain local electricity networks. HeatNet will demonstrate how coordinating heat pump operations with advanced algorithms can address these challenges. HeatNet will develop innovative machine-learning tools to manage heat pump power loads to help regulate vo...

Gaining consent from third party landowners to install, maintain, and upgrade network equipment is a challenge for network operators. When a customer wants to connect to the network or operational works are required, delays in securing consent from landowners is a barrier, causing frustration to all. Wayl-ease seeks to create a transparent, secure platfor...

Today, the vessels, docks, and ports operating on the Thames run mostly on fossil fuels, but this is changing as the river's economy decarbonises. There is limited understanding how this shift will affect the electricity network. Working together with stakeholders across marine and energy industry, we will map out the future of maritime transport in the c...

As the share of inverter-based resources, including renewable generation, increases, lower system strength can lead to uncontrolled voltage changes which can escalate to instability and risk widescale customer disconnections. To secure the Net Zero grid, Network Owners urgently need to monitor system strength conditions to implement the most effective and...

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