Transmission and Distribution Interface 2.0(TDI 2.0)

NIC Project Bid 2016


Contents

1.Introduction

2.The network

3.Initial Expression of Interest

4.Technical Questionnaire

5.Key dates

1.Introduction

UK Power Networks (UKPN) and National Grid (NGET) are preparing a proposal for a Network Innovation Competition (NIC) funded project for submission to Ofgem by the end of July 2016. If successful the project is expected to commence in January 2017 and be completed by June 2019.

The transmission system in the South East is the optimal location for additional interconnectors to Europe and a location for significant volumes of renewables such as wind and solar power.

Due to existing network limitations it is not possible to accommodate either additional interconnectors or significant volumes of renewables without undertaking major investment to reinforce the transmission network.

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate a whole systems approach to implementing smart solutions as cost effective alternatives to network reinforcement. The project will demonstrate coordination between transmission and distribution network operators to efficiently utilise resources and manage risk using real network trials.

The scope of the project focuses on realising the potential of distributed energy resources within the distribution system to help manage transmission and distribution limitations.

The project is titled “Transmission and Distribution Interface 2.0 (TDI 2.0)” and the initial scoping proposal can be found here:

2.The network

The following depicts the area of the network hereon in described as the ‘South East”– highlighted in red.

The network comprising of the 4 Grid Supply Points (GSPs) (Bolney, Ninfield, Sellindge and Canterbury) form the scope for this year’s NIC Bid Proposal “Transmission and Distribution Interface 2.0 (TDI 2.0)”.

3.Initial Expression of Interest

UK Power Networks and National Grid are seeking distributed energy resources customers as project participants for the purposes of developing and demonstrating services that:

  • enable access into the network in an already constrained area
  • could be of value to the Distribution Network Operator and the System Operator in managing thermal and voltage limitations

We are looking to work with customers within the East Kent and Sussex area indicated on the map in section 2.

We are interested in working with:

  • Existing connectees
  • Future projects that can be delivered in 12 – 24 months from January 2017

We are seeking parties with the capability of providing reactive power services and would also be interested in parties with the capability of providing the reactive power service in conjunction with active power services.

At this initial stage, we are looking to gauge the level of interestand engage with customers to inform our detailed bid submission.

If you are interested, please complete the question set in the table below by5pm on Friday May 27th 2016.

Contact details for any queries or clarifications is: DG-Q&

Any queries received will be responded to as soon as is practical. Once we have received and reviewed your submissions we will make a decision on how to proceed. No guarantees of contract or a grid connection can be made at this stage.

4.Technical Questionnaire

Question / Customer Response
Q1. Please detail your existing projectsthat can provide active and reactive power services in the East Kent and Sussex areas? Please include site location, capacity and technology type.
Q2. Please specify what control system you have in place at the moment. How are operational changes made? Do you need to visit site? What are your operational timescales?
Q3. Please specify what reactive power capabilities you have in place and its technology type. Is reactive power output based on active power output?
Q4. Please identify the range of timescales (range in seconds) within which your existing Distributed Energy Resources in East Kent and Sussex can provide MVAr services (absorption/injection).
Do you have the capability to provide dynamic reactive response (1 – 5seconds)?
Q5. If you are using an inverter system, please specify whether it has multi-functionality? Do you have fault ride through capabilities?
Q7. Please specify in what services/schemes you are currently participating or what services/schemes you have been contracted to deliver in the future?
Q8. Please specify any limitation you might have such as time of the day/season/year where you can or cannot provide a service e.g. maximum utilisation in a certain period, utilisation duration, recovery time scale etc.
Q9. Please detail any futureprojectsthat you are planningin the East Kent and/or Sussex areas and would be interested in including. Please provide site location, capacity and technology type and planning status.
We intend to share this information between National Grid and UK Power Networks project team.
Please let us know if you are providing commercial sensitive information that you do not want shared or subject to confidentiality agreement.

5.Key dates

Milestone / Task / Deadline (Date)
Deadline for responses to this EOI / 25 May 2016
Application submission to Ofgem / Forecast for July 2016
Funding decision / Forecast for December 2016
Project Start / Forecast for January 2017

UK Power Networks (Operations) Limited.Registered in England and Wales. Registered No. 3870728. Registered Office: Newington House, 237 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 6NPPage1 of 6