NGET expands the use of SmartValve project
UK: National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is expanding the use of transformational power flow control technology.
Image source: National Grid
UK: National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) is expanding the use of transformational power flow control technology.
The company is building on the successful installations of the world’s first large scale use of the technology on its UK network earlier this year.
NGET owns the cables and substations that form the electricity transmission system in England and Wales and is using innovative new technology to make the most of its network, avoiding the need to build new infrastructure and contributing to the UK’s net zero ambitions.
More renewables connecting to the network, the phasing out of fossil fuel generation and electrification of transport are changing the way power flows across the UK. This means that circuits become unequally loaded, causing overloads of some circuits that limits the capacity of the entire network.
By using modular power flow control technology, NGET can remove bottlenecks and unlock unused capacity on the existing network. NGET has already installed 48 SmartValves across five circuits at three of its substations in the North England, creating 1.5 GW of extra capacity; enough to power one million UK homes with renewable energy.
With the increasing volume of renewable generation seeking to connect to the network, NGET sees a pressing need for even more capacity in the area in 2022.
The modular nature of the technology means that new SmartValves can be easily added to the existing projects, and installed devices can be moved between sites depending on the capability required on each circuit at any point in time.
The deployment design is optimised for scaling up or down the project size, meaning that expanding the project is possible within the existing site footprint. This enables faster installation timeframes, minimizes additional site works and costs, and avoids disruption to local communities and the environment.
“At NGET we are committed to finding new ways to make the most of our existing network, delivering a cleaner, fairer and more affordable energy system that serves everyone. Our Smart Wires project is using new technology at substations in the North England to unlock extra capacity, allowing greater volumes of renewable power to be efficiently transferred to customers,” said Zac Richardson, Director of New Infrastructure.
The expansion of projects will be completed in 2022.
Source: National Grid
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