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The Topic: Smart systems SMART SYSTEMS THE TOPIC 14 | 10TH - 16TH MARCH 2017 | UTILITY WEEK Low carbon solutions There are four broad categories of low car- bon heat provision: • Networked heating – using heat networks supplied by a low carbon source. • Individual electric heating – including heat pumps using a decarbonised elec- tricity supply. • Hybrid electric/gas heating – using heat pumps combined with small amounts of gas to meet peak demands. • Networked gas – re-purposing the exist- ing gas grid for low carbon gas use (such as hydrogen). There is, though, no stand-out solu- tion for the mass market. Carbon costs are not added to energy bills, so high carbon options are always cheaper. Low carbon solutions are also relatively complex, with high upfront costs and uncertain benefits for consumers and providers. Developing local area strategies There is a need to help build local con- sensus around spatial strategies that meet the 2050 goals. This should take account of local characteristics including housing stock, geography, energy networks, energy resources and local preferences. Some local authorities are already work- ing on energy master plans as part of the Energy Technologies Institute's (ETI's) Smart Systems and Heat programme (Newcastle City Council, Bridgend County Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority). The Energy Systems Catapult has assumed responsibility for the delivery of phase one of the programme to the ETI, H ousehold space and water heat- ing in the UK contributes around 100 million tonnes of CO2 annually to the atmosphere, which is 20 per cent of the country's total CO2 emissions and the equivalent of 3.5 tonnes per household. So heat decarbonisation is vital for emissions reduction, and when viewed from an energy system perspective is likely to be more cost- effective than undertaking deeper cuts in transport and industry. The question is how to move from a system that provides good service but burns natural gas, to one which is also secure and affordable but with near-zero emissions and still providing the warmth and comfort. The customer is king The starting point should be not "how much energy do you use" but "what is it you are seeking to achieve when you are using energy"? This sounds simple, but there are many different building types, with many different occupants with many differing requirements, and proposals based just on general assumptions will find little favour. UKPN – Smarter Network Storage UK Power Networks (UKPN) began its Smart Network Storage project in Janu- ary 2013 and it ran to December 2016. The £18.7 million pilot saw the DNO install 6MW of lithium-ion storage at its Leighton Buzzard substation. The aim of the grid-scale battery was to prove that the technology has the potential to be technically and commercially viable. The project concluded that grid-scale energy storage could be commercially viable as battery costs continue to fall and revenue streams become accessible. SSEN – Esprit This is part of the wider My Electric Avenue project designed to assess the impact that electric vehicles (EV) will have on the elec- tricity distribution network. Project Esprit comprises sets of moni- toring and control equipment in nine clus- ters in an area where neighbours drive and charge EVs on the same electricity feeder. When demand comes close to the supply limit in those areas, Esprit switches off car charging points until the peak is passed (see graph). Tesla – Powerwall Tesla's Powerwall, announced in May 2015, is a domestic storage pack made up of lithium-ion batteries. The idea from founder Elon Musk (who is also one of Utility Week Live's top ten transformative individuals) is that the Power wall will collect and store excess energy from roof-mounted solar panels and small-scale wind turbines. This will then be used to power the home at times of higher demand or low Networks innovation With the development of a smarter energy system comes the adoption of new ideas and technologies, often from new entrants to the utility arena. Here are some of the technologies and companies that are bringing fresh solutions and driving forward the progress of future-proof, active networks. The heat is on Comment: Jeff Douglas, strategy manager, Energy Systems Catapult SPACE AND WATER HEATING (TWH) Ground source heat pump Air source heat pump Electric restrictive heating and hot water Gas boiler Oil boiler District heating Solid fuel boiler Source: Energy Technologies Institute LLP 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 2010 2050