We are delighted to announce that a new project set to revolutionise the UK’s electricity network has been installed in East Renfrewshire - helping to smooth the transition from traditional energy generation to renewable power.
We are trialling our ‘Project Phoenix’ initiative over the next 12 months at Neilston substation and plan to roll out the technology across further locations once complete.
Maintaining stability in the system as we facilitate the transition to cleaner, greener electricity generation sources is a key challenge within the UK transmission network. As traditional fossil fuel generation is replaced by more and more renewable energy such as wind farms, the network system needs to be fit for purpose to provide the stability and resilience needed.
The pioneering Phoenix project, will help address these system issues to ensure customers receive an uninterrupted and stable supply of electricity as we move to sustainable and net zero energy system. The project will provide an innovative solution to help ensure a robust and resilient energy system that can adapt to meet the needs of customers both now and well into the future.
Project Phoenix is expected to reduce network operating costs by between £53m to £66m, helping to reduce customer’s bills while also minimising carbon footprint – saving over 62,000 tonnes of carbon, which is equivalent to the electricity use of over 6,000 homes.
Colin Taylor, Director of Processes and Technology at SP Energy Networks, said: “I’m very proud that we have been able to drive forward with the Phoenix project this year, despite the recent pandemic and it’s challenges.
“This world first innovative project has just reached a key milestone following the commencement of its live trial. Technology like this allows us to accommodate even more renewable generation on our electricity system while maintaining levels of system stability and resilience.
“Globally leading and innovative projects such as Phoenix are not only important from a network perspective but also from a green recovery and net zero perspective helping us to deliver a better future, quicker for our customers.”
We have worked with partners, Hitachi ABB Power Grids, National Grid ESO, The University of Strathclyde and The Technical University of Denmark on the project and will analyse the live trial data to prove the concept before validating the commercial mechanisms in order to roll the technology out wider. We already have plans to roll out this technology within the RIIO T2 Price Control.
Phoenix will aid with the transition to a future transmission network that can benefit from clean energy resources without compromising the security and quality of supply to the customers.
Through innovative solutions like Phoenix, SP Energy Networks is leading the way in the transition to more renewable energy solutions and is committed to supporting local communities to achieve a better future, quicker.
For more on Project Phoenix, click the link below: