Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) program has approved a $1.1-million grant for eight projects at National Grid that will proceed to the ‘discovery’ stage toward bringing about innovation in electricity distribution and transmission networks.
National Grid Electricity Distribution has received $625,000 for five projects, with one studying how electric vehicles will restore power to vulnerable customers in the event of a power outage. The other four projects concern how digital technologies foster a local smart energy system, how the grid operator can exploit flexible opportunities at various utilities, how digital solutions back regional network planning and how network loads are impacted by thermal energy efficiency. National Grid’s electricity distribution business will partner on a further two projects each with the National Grid Electricity System Operator and with Wales & West Utilities.
“The discovery phase will allow us to test key assumptions and carry out the early work necessary to firm up our plans for the alpha and beta SIF phases where we can develop the initial ideas into prototypes and full-scale trials,” said Jenny Woodruff, Innovation Team Manager at National Grid Electricity Distribution.
National Grid Electricity Transmission has received $495,000 for three projects that will aid in the formulation of a net zero electricity network. The projects concern evaluating the resilience of the energy system, formulating a strategy to expel electrical insulating gas sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) from the network over the long term, and studying technology that will boost power flow capability on incumbent overhead lines.
“This funding will help drive progress on a raft of innovative projects, from new technologies to boost network capacity, to how we reduce our dependency on the greenhouse gas SF6,” said Nicola Todd, Head of Strategy and Innovation at National Grid Electricity Transmission.
