Northern Powergrid is highlighting the need for electricity Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), regulators and industry partners to work together to define the future of network-scale energy storage. Speaking at two events across the country this week, senior team members from Northern Powergrid will address this hot topic.
Policy and markets director, Patrick Ewin, will address delegates at Front Group's Flexible Energy Systems and Storage Forum in London on Thursday 22 March. Meanwhile head of innovation and trading, Jim Cardwell, will address audiences in the North East at UKES2018 (UK Energy Storage Conference) on Wednesday 21 March.
"Energy storage has huge potential to change how the UK's energy system works," commented Patrick. "The storage industry is growing rapidly and, in parallel, we are making the biggest changes to our power network since the 1970s. Evaluating how battery storage interacts with our network from household to utility level is a key priority for us as we seek to develop a truly customer-led distribution system. We welcome healthy engagement between DNOs, regulators and industry partners to present the best possible uses of energy storage on our network. Debate generated at events like those we are attending this week will be crucial to the advancement of this collaboration and the success of energy storage."
One key area Northern Powergrid is looking at is the use of battery storage for increased resilience in areas that are susceptible to power cuts by nature of their geography - such as outlying coastal communities - and how to improve service for vulnerable people in these regions. Earlier this year, the DNO encouraged Ofgem to keep an open mind as use cases for operators owning storage are developed; while competitive markets for flexibility are important, this must not be at the cost of stifling innovation by networks that enhances customer service.
Northern Powergrid has a number of projects underway to develop understanding of the benefits that may be delivered by energy storage. In Darlington, it is operating a 2.5MW (5MWh) battery to maintain the electricity network at a stable frequency, providing balancing services to National Grid, and has also been providing services through the Winter to assist an energy supplier. This is supporting learning amongst Northern Powergrid's team, as the company transitions to operating a more active system of distributed energy resources that are expected to assist with local system balancing in the future.
Northern Powergrid is also engaged in a trial project with home battery company Moixa that has seen batteries installed in 40 council owned homes in Oxspring village outside Barnsley. The trial is demonstrating how batteries can be used to manage peak solar output, reduce homeowner's energy costs and avoid need for network reinforcement.
"The industry is making great strides in reviewing the best ways to incorporate energy storage into the operation of the network," Jim added. "We are very aware that getting the role of battery storage right now, in these early stages, is a sizeable opportunity for us to deliver significant service improvements for our customers. As such, we are considering how we might use this energy storage opportunity now to provide increased support to our most remote and technologically-vulnerable communities in the long-term."
"Battery storage has the potential to make a real difference to the lives of people in many of our operating areas and in order to maximise the benefits for customers we need to make sure that storage assets are available for the network to call on, we think electric vehicles with vehicle-to-grid technology could be a particularly important part of this," Patrick concluded.
