Medium voltage reinforcement techniques and role of the communication network

Ofgem (UK Electricity & Gas regulator) has estimated a need for £32 billion of electricity network investment in the next ten years, a doubling of the rate of investment over the last 20 years. Investment needs to be smarter, drawing on a range of new, innovative intervention techniques as an alternative to, or to supplement conventional network reinforcement. Western Power Distribution, Cisco and Alstom are working together on the Flexible Approaches to Low Carbon Networks (FALCON) project. This is a UK Government funded initiative to look at ways of improving understanding of the UK infrastructure needs in a low carbon future. This is focused on the provision of networks to support energy demand for the future. This project is aimed at reducing the cost of reinforcing the 11kV network Within this presentation we will discuss four of the intervention (reinforcement) techniques that are being deployed. The four intervention techniques that will be discussed along with the communication solution are: . Dynamic Asset Rating . Automated Load Transfer . Meshed networks . Energy Storage We will examine how a wireless IP communications network based on WiMax has been designed to accommodate the different requirements including, monitoring, control and low latency applications such as tele-protection.