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Network October 2017

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NETWORK / 19 / OCTOBER 2017 experience. Q: As a model, why is the Catapult a good way of ad- dressing energy challenges? PN: The Catapults are not-for- profit. They are independent, and they are private institu- tions. Their mission – and our mission – is to spur innovation and open up new markets in support of government policy. The two government policies that affect the Energy Systems Catapult are the Climate Change Act and industrial policy. So what we offer is a completely non-aligned organisation that sits between government, academia and industry that has a commercial mindset, that is itself technically competent, and is building tools and capabilities that can support all actors across the segment. Our interest is only in helping actors in the sector innovate and solve the challenges and questions that the energy transition brings. Q: What have the gains for the ESC been in taking the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) Strategic Analysis Function (SAF) on board? PN: The Strategic Analysis team has a fabulous track record and reputation for the qual- ity of its insight, analysis and modelling capabilities around the whole energy system, so we are delighted it is now part of the Catapult. We would have needed that kind of capabil- ity anyway if we were to fulfil our remit, and so this is a good way of making sure that not only is the Catapult properly equipped for its task, but also that the capability that has been invested in historically by ETI members, and that is so valuable, has got a future that is assured at the Catapult. We should be open, and therefore we provide a great platform for the SAF work to continue to be used in a way that is supportive to the sector and stakeholders across it. We think that the SAF is a great way of starting to help build evidence and models about what might change in the energy system. Q: Do you think the landscape for renewables is looking good in the UK? PN: The prospects for these technologies depend on three things. The future nature of market design; the success of those technologies and develop- ers of those technologies in continuing to bring costs down and maintain high performance levels; and, finally, the capac- ity of the system as a whole to remain resilient and balanced as more and more renewables come on stream. My own view is that we are fast entering a world where it is technically feasible to think of low cost, low carbon and high reliability as being totally convergent goals. The challenge we have is to make sure we design and think about systems and methods of inte- gration to enable that potential to be realised. Q: What will the ESC's input be into the development of the next price control? PN: We would hope to be help- ful in supporting it in whatever way is appropriate to achieve a good outcome for the process; an outcome that is supportive of achieving our wider goals for the sector. Beyond that, it is down to Ofgem, the DNOs and transmission players as to the shape it takes. Q: Is the level of fuel poverty in the UK a surprise? PN: The question is how we work with the tools and poten- tial that digitisation and con- nected homes can bring, and the transformation of energy, and make sure we support dis- advantaged people through the transition. New technologies, and, potentially, new business models and new ways of work- ing, plus new ways of thinking about energy and the consumer, have the potential to gener- ate a richer set of answers and responses to the challenges of equity and inclusion. ZIV Automation solving transmission grid stability ZIV Automation is solving transmission grid stability problems by managing aggregated reactive power. Reactive power is needed to maintain stable voltage levels on the transmission network. The replacement of conventional generation with renewable generation is resulting in less reactive power reserves and an increasing risk of voltage instability and collapse. ZIV Automation is currently supplying a solution to ESB Networks, Ireland, that controls and aggregates reactive power from a number of DERs to provide voltage support to the transmission network. The ZIV Vpp acts like a single virtual generator to the TSO, but is really managing the individual DERs and transformer tap changers behind the connection point. The Transmission System Operator (TSO) sets a target voltage or reactive power that it needs delivered at the connection point. The ZIV Vpp takes this target voltage / reactive power and distributes it as a series of reactive power set-points to the various generators, proportional to their reactive power capacity and their de-rated effectiveness at the connection point. The system constantly monitors the voltage / reactive power at the TSO interface and adjusts the reactive power at the DERs so that the aggregated value is within limits. It controls the tap-changers on the medium / high voltage transformers to achieve the reactive power and avoid any voltage violations on the MV network. The ZIV solution consists of three main elements: a central controller (running the intricate algorithms and interfacing with the distribution system operator and TSO); generation management units located at each generator site to control the various generators to achieve the desired setpoints; and tap control units that manage the transformer tap changers to maintain the MV network voltage. ZIV Automation is delivering similar innovative power management solutions to power utilities across the globe. I n d u s t ry I n s I g h t

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