Network

NETWORK / 32 / APRIL/MAY 2020 That ability of the system to pro- tect the network where there's con ict of interest between the DNO and ESO could potentially be quite important going for- ward," says Nicholls. The majority of live trials on the LEM were completed at the end of March 2020, aƒ er which the team from Centrica Business Solutions will analyse the re- sults, along with partners from (WPD), National Grid, analytics specialists N-SIDE, Imperial Col- lege, and Exeter University. However, a separate project will continue on the Venton- teague wind turbine once it begins operation. The Enercon E82 turbine being used is a direct drive technology that can ramp up and down very quickly, giving it potential as another exibility response, Nicholls explains. If this can be proven, renew- able energy could be treated as part of the dynamic network, rather than curtailing it when best price for the system, to prove that it could o" er a more cost-e" ective way of unblocking the grid than paying for infra- structure upgrades, according to Nicholls. Another feature of the LEM's platform is that it allows both the local distribution system operator – Western Power Distribution (WPD), and the Transmission System Operator – National Grid ESO, to procure exibility simultaneously. This happened for the — rst time in September 2019. "We wanted to build a solu- tion that coordinated the two buyers," says Nicholls. "At the moment, National Grid ESO buys exibility blind, without knowing what impact it will have on the network. Potentially it could be exacerbating the bal- ancing challenge for the DNO. "But the platform resolves the problem by not allowing the electricity system to buy exibil- ity that causes problems locally. 'Bills have come down 30-35 per cent since doing this' Dan Tonkin (pictured below) runs an ice factory at Newlyn Harbour, supplying to the local fi shing industry. It has taken a while to get them used to the concept of the LEM, he says. "Fishermen notoriously hate change, they genuinely thought it was a joke and fobbed it off. Now energy bills have gone down and they can actually see money coming back into the bank account, they think it's the best thing since sliced bread." Tonkin's factory produces up to 140 tonnes of ice a day. Electricity is his biggest overhead by a long way, costing £16,000-£20,000 a month. The factory's electricity is so high that it has an independent supply from Western Power Distribution. "If we make a small change, it can impact the grid in the local area massively," he says. Before he was involved in the LEM, Tonkin would run the ice machines overnight, benefi tting from a cheaper rate. However, during busy periods, he would have to run them during the day as well to catch up with demand. The electricity was more expensive during the day, and Tonkin would have to pass the extra cost onto customers. The ice factory is a not-for-profi t run for the benefi t of the fi shermen. Tonkin had switched energy suppliers to keep costs down, but was searching for a better solution when he found out about the LEM. The ice business is ideal for the LEM. When running at full capacity, Tonkin's machine requires the power equivalent to 300 homes. He plans when he will be using his machine around a week in advance, though it can also be switched on at any time. Demand for ice is highest in summer, which coincides with when constraints on the network are highest due to an excess of solar power. The LEM's platform alerts Tonkin to when load is needed on the system. "For example, they'll say that tomorrow they need two hours of me running at 100 per cent which means I almost make ice for free - you can imagine the savings. Sometimes they've needed up to eight hours in a week, which is enough for 32 tonnes of ice for little or no money! "Bills have come down 30-35 per cent since doing this, that's a phenomenal saving. It really takes the stress out of what's going in and what's going out," he says. Tonkin admits to having been "pretty sceptical at fi rst" about the LEM. "But it's very transparent, they're not just putting monitoring gear on and then telling you what to do. You can look for yourself, I have half-hourly data – that alone is a great tool," he says. The fi nancial savings are not the only benefi t of the LEM to Tonkin. "Because we're a not-for-profi t, everything we can do to build the portfolio up to look green, it all ticks big boxes for fi shing right now." Tonkin has just secured a deal with Waitrose to supply ice for transporting fi sh from the markets to their supermarkets. "Anything we can do to get funding is phenomenal - it means I stay trading, which is what I want to do more than anything," he says. no money! "Bills have come down 30-35 per cent since doing this, that's a phenomenal saving. It really takes the stress out of what's going in and what's going out," he says. Tonkin admits to having been "pretty sceptical at fi rst" about the LEM. "But it's very transparent, they're not just putting monitoring gear on and then telling you what to do. You can look for yourself, I have half-hourly data – that alone is a great tool," he says. The fi nancial savings are not the only benefi t of the LEM to Tonkin. "Because we're a not-for-profi t, everything we can do to build the portfolio up to look green, it all ticks big boxes for fi shing right now." Tonkin has just secured a deal with Waitrose to supply ice for transporting fi sh from the markets to their supermarkets. get funding is phenomenal - it means I stay trading, which is what I want to do more than anything," he says. Power from the LEM has helped reduce bills for ice production LOCAL ENERGY

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