The University of Strathclyde’s Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering has accessed funding through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Impact Acceleration Fund to undertake research into distribution network loading characteristics using data from the OpenLV project.
OpenLV presents the opportunity for organisations to access data from Western Power Distribution’s (WPD’s) LV network, with WPD being the funding licensee. Access to this data is attractive to the University of Strathclyde because of the geographical and meteorological diversity of the network region, giving unique insights into how network demand characteristics can vary and how the Machine Learning algorithms they have previously developed to capture these will work operationally. Researchers at the University are capitalising upon this opportunity, using the data to run a project reviewing the impact of renewable generation and Electric Vehicles (EVs) on the ‘last mile’ (ie. unmonitored sections) of the distribution network. Data from the project is available in real time, if a software application has been developed; every 30 minutes via a cloud-hosted server; or historically on a monthly basis at one-minute frequency (this is the case for the University).
OpenLV is also providing opportunities for academic institutions to make industrial and commercial connections. This attracted the University of Strathclyde which already has strong industrial links, including with UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) through the University’s Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC).
The OpenLV project is presenting an opportunity for community groups, industrial and commercial organisations as well as academic establishments, to access electricity distribution network data for the first time. The project has already proven that the data is of value to a wider range of stakeholders who can use the data in a variety of ways, having already recruited seven community groups and 24 wider industry organisations including commercial and academic institutions to participate in the project.
OpenLV is a unique project being run by EA Technology in partnership with WPD. The project is trialling an open software platform in electricity substations that can monitor substation performance and electricity demand. The LV-CAP™ platform was designed to enable greater network control and innovation, allowing for more efficient network management. The platform has been installed in 80 Low Voltage (LV) distribution substations located in WPD’s licence areas – the Midlands, the South West and South Wales. The platform can also host applications provided by a diverse set of developers which will benefit stakeholders by providing greater visibility of network performance and demand over a widely spread geographical area.
EA Technology is looking to engage with additional institutions, encouraging further use of network data gathered through OpenLV. If you would like to grasp this opportunity, please get in touch at openlv@eatechnology.com
Find out more at www.openlv.net.
