Power Electronics in Distribution Networks

The IET, Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL

Wednesday 30th November 2016

10:00 – 16:00

1 | P a g e

Introduction

The evolution of the distribution network is demanding innovative methods to control power flows and

voltages in order to integrate new loads and increase the density of distributed generation. Power electronic

controllers are one of the options actively being considered and several DNOs in the UK have trialled them. It is

clear, however, that there are still challenges to the wide-spread deployment of power electronic controllers

in distribution networks.

This colloquium brings together academics, equipment vendors and network operators to discuss the lessons

learned from Low Carbon Network Fund projects which have deployed power electronic solutions for

distribution networks. The intention is to identify lessons learned from these trials and to distil from those

lessons some good practice and some fresh challenges that can be taken up by the power electronics

community to propel the technology forward.

The programme will cover the specifying, designing, building and deployment of power electronics through

presentations by a selection of projects in this field. After the presentations, workshops will be run to discuss

the future of power electronics in distribution networks and identify areas of research and development which

have yet to be addressed.

The colloquium is being jointly organised by UK Power Networks and the HubNet consortium with support

from the Centre for Power Electronics.

2 | P a g e

Agenda Time Activity

10:00 Registration and Refreshments – Mountbatten Exhibition Room (2nd Floor)

10:20 Welcome and Introduction to the Colloquium – Mountbatten Exhibition Room (2nd Floor) Imperial College London Tim Green

10:40 Session 1 – Mountbatten Exhibition Room (2nd Floor) FUN-LV – Distribution Network Characteristics for Power Electronic Devices UK Power Networks Peter Lang Power Electronics for Smart Grid… The Practical Stuff Turbo Power Systems Nigel Jakeman New Thames Valley Vision Scottish and Southern Power Distribution Mark Coulthard

11:30 Coffee Break

11:45 Session 2 – Mountbatten Exhibition Room (2nd Floor) FlexDGrid – Active Fault Decouple Development Western Power Distribution Jonathan Berry A Low Cost, High Capacity, Smart Residential Distribution Network Aston University Andrew Cross High Power Density Mid-Feeder Converter Evaluation University of Nottingham Jon Clare

12:30 Questions – Mountbatten Exhibition Room (2nd Floor) The speakers will form a panel session and take questions from members of the audience

13:00 Lunch and Networking – Riverside Room (3rd Floor)

13:45 Workshop – 2nd Floor Mountbatten Exhibition Room (Groups 4 – 6), Adjoining Boardrooms (Groups 1 – 3) Breakout groups will be formed for discussions on the challenges of deploying power electronics in distribution networks

14:30 Coffee Break

14:45 Presentations – Mountbatten Exhibition Room (2nd Floor) Each breakout group presents their discussions

16:00 Closing Remarks – Mountbatten Exhibition Room (2nd Floor) Imperial College London Tim Green

3 | P a g e

Workshop Session The aim of the workshop is to discuss the future of power electronics in distribution networks and identify

areas of research and development which have yet to be addressed by the power electronics community.

Forty-five minutes have been provided and this sheet provides topics areas for this discussion. Each group is

provided with 5 minutes in the final session to disseminate their ideas in the main lecture theatre. The

presentation must summarise the key points from your discussion and present your ideas to the other

delegates in the Mountbatten Exhibition room. A flip chart has been provided and it is recommended that this

is used during your short presentation. Your group should allocate a rapporteur and a scribe for the flipchart.

Topic areas for discussion Lessons learnt from the mornings presentations

The morning’s presentations have covered learnings from three DNO lead projects which have or are in the

process of integrating different power electronic devices into the distribution network. What are the key

lessons from these projects and are any of these lessons identical for all three projects?

Areas that require further research and development

Most academic research into power electronics focuses on the control of power electronics, the circuit design

of power electronics and the economics of power electronics providing services to distribution networks.

However, installing power electronics in distribution networks has challenges such as the noise of the devices

from the switching and cooling, and the reliability of power electronics in substation or outdoor environments

and the ability of power electronic devices to ride through distribution network faults. Which areas from your

point of view are the most important for further research and development and why?

Challenges and barriers for further integration of power electronics in distribution networks

Power electronics offers many benefits to the distribution network including the control of power flow, control

of voltage and reducing the unbalance in the LV network. However significant challenges exist which include

the size, cooling of the power electronic devices, the efficiency of the devices, the purchase cost, running

costs, installation costs and maintenance costs.

Appropriate means to fund further work

Funding for the integration of power electronics in distribution networks has previously been from EPSRC, NIA

/ NIC, Innovate UK and Horizon 20:20. Are these the most appropriate means and are there any other sources

that manufactures, DNOs and academics should be utilising?

Specification of power electronics for integration in distribution networks

What is most important and what should be expected of power electronics when operating in the distribution

network? Standards on network equipment do not always specify what is necessary for power electronics, for

example EMC and fault ride-through behaviour.

Recommendations of future collaboration to progress power electronics in distribution networks

How should manufactures, DNOs and academics collaborate more in the future?

4 | P a g e

Workshop Talking points

Voltage transients / constraints / profiles

Sensors and feedback

Voltage levels (0.4 kV, 11 kV, 33 kV)

Benefits - tangible benefits now and in the

long term

Avoiding audio noise New technologies

Disruption Distribution and

substation environments

Size Standards

Planning tools Future for power

electronics

5 | P a g e

Biography of the speakers Distribution Network Operators

Jonathan Berry Western Power Distribution

Jonathan has worked in the electricity distribution industry since 2006, with particular focus on primary network and substation design. Latterly he has focussed on the integration of distributed generation through the New Connections arm of the business, where he developed an excellent technical and commercial understanding of the needs and requirements to facilitate the connection of generation to an electricity network. He is now playing an active role in the development of smart grid technologies, methodologies and applications through Ofgem’s innovation funding mechanisms. Jonathan’s current portfolio of work includes the management of WPD’s LCNF Tier-2 Projects, FlexDGrid and Network Equilibrium, which aims to create a suite of engineering solutions to the increasing problem of high fault levels and voltage control on the distribution network, respectively.

Mark Coulthard Scottish and Southern Power Distribution

Mark has worked in the electricity distribution industry for the past three years, with a particular focus on LCNF Tier-2 LV network connected energy storage devices, with an aim to facilitate the transition to low carbon technologies, such as PV and EV, within the domestic sector, and thus reduce the need for traditional reinforcement. The current Tier-2 project – ‘New Thames Valley Vision’ (NTVV), through the deployment of innovative power electronic solutions, seeks to provide a holistic view of the LV network, through modelling and control, to network balancing, thermal and voltage support. He has previously held design, operational and management positions, within the standby power industry. He is a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (MIET)

6 | P a g e

Peter Lang UK Power Networks

Peter graduated from Southampton University in 1987. He has worked for UK Power Networks (UKPN) and its predecessor companies for 25 years. He currently manages a number of demonstration projects funded by Ofgem’s LCNF mechanism aimed at improving network performance. He has represented UKPN on a number of European Commission funded projects such as ADDRESS, FENIX and HiPerDNO. Peter has also been involved in preparing many of UKPN’s successful Tier 2 bids. He is currently involved in UKPN’s Flexible Urban Networks at Low Voltage (FUN-LV) where he is the design authority and provides operational and technical support.

Manufacturing

Nigel Jakeman Turbo Power Systems

Nigel gained his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Sheffield before holding several positions at Cummins Generator Technologies including Electromagnetic Design Engineer and Design for Six Sigma Black Belt. In 2005 he co-founded start-up company GenDrive Ltd where as Managing Director the company delivered a range of unique Grid Tied Converters for wind turbines from concept through to manufacture and ultimately volume scale deployment. In 2014 he joined Turbo Power Systems in Gateshead, a developer and manufacturer of Power Electronics and High Speed motors & generators. In his strategic role as Engineering and Business Development Director he is responsible for delivering value adding, custom designed electrical products to market sectors including Rail, Industrial, Energy and Military.

7 | P a g e

University

Jon Clare Nottingham University

Prof. Jon Clare was born in Bristol, England. He received the BSc and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from The University of Bristol, UK. From 1984 to 1990 he worked as a Research Assistant and Lecturer at The University of Bristol involved in teaching and research in power electronic systems. Since 1990 he has been with the Power Electronics, Machines and Control Group (PEMC) at the University of Nottingham as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer (1999) and currently as Professor in Power Electronics and Head of Research Group (2004). His research interests are in power electronic systems and applications, power electronic converter topologies and their control, aerospace electrical systems and variable speed drive systems. Prof. Clare is a Member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He is a Member of the Editorial Board of IEE Proceedings EPA and an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. Since 2004, Prof. Clare has been a member of the Executive Council of the European Power Electronics Association. Prof. Clare received a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award for 2016-2021

Andrew Cross Aston University

Andrew Cross has worked in various power electronics companies starting at GEC Industrial Controls through to more recently with Alstom Power Conversion and Alstom Grid Solutions. He has been a Lecturer in Power Electronics at Manchester University and now carries out the same role at Aston University. He will be moving to Loughborough University as a Senior Lecturer in the CREST research group from the beginning of next year.

8 | P a g e

Tim Green Imperial College London

Professor Tim Green is Director of the Energy Futures Lab, an Institute that promotes and stimulates multi-disciplinary research, education and translation in energy at Imperial College London. Tim is Professor of Electrical Power Engineering and received a BSc (Eng) from Imperial College London and a PhD from Heriot-Watt University both in Electrical Engineering. He was a Lecturer at Heriot Watt University until 1994. Tim’s research interest is in formulating the future form of the electricity network to support low carbon futures. A particular theme is how the flexibility of power electronics and control systems can be used to accommodate new generation patterns and new types of load, such as EV charging, as part of the emerging smart grid. He and his team have work on many aspects of HVDC technology covering converter optimization and control, fault management, and the dynamics of combined AC and DC networks. He also has interests in power electronics for the management of voltage and power flow in low-voltage networks. Tim leads the HubNet Supergen consortium of UK universities coordinating research in low carbon energy networks.

9 | P a g e

Delegate List

Grain Adam University of Strathclyde

Avinash Aithal Cardiff University

Nadim Al-Hariri CGI

Arash Amiri Aston University

Mina Bagheri Aston University

Jonathan Berry Western Power Distribution

Simon Blake Newcastle University

Nathaniel Bottrell Imperial College London

Jonathan Bowes University of Strathclyde

David Boyer UK Power Networks

Geraldine Bryson Electricity North West

Ian Cameron UK Power Networks

Geraint Chaffey Imperial College London

Jon Clare University of Nottingham

Federico Coffele Power Networks Demonstration Centre

Pieter Coppens Triphase NV

Mark Coulthard Scottish and Southern Power Distribution

Andrew Cross Aston University

Mohamed Dahidah Newcastle University

Lucinda Dann Faversham House

Mohamed Darwish Brunel University

Phil Davies API Capacitors

Marc Doran Scottish and Southern Power Distribution

Thazi Edwards UK Power Networks

Zia Emin PSC UK

Anthony Florida-James University of Strathclyde

Shady Gadoue Newcastle University

Jesse Garcia UK Power Networks

Sean Gauton University of Nottingham

Warwick Glendenning PSC UK Ltd

David Graham Stoyerman Controls

Tim Green Imperial College London

Richard Hair Uniper

Randa Herzallah Aston University

Lewis Hunter University of Strathclyde

Nigel Jakeman Turbo Power Systems

Kyle Jennett Power Networks Demonstration Centre

10 | P a g e

Adria Junyent-Ferre Imperial College London

Sami Laitinen Ensto Finland

Peter Lang UK Power Networks

Brian Lasslett Powerline Technologies Ltd

Philip Lawton Energy Systems Catapult

Vanco Litovski University of Bath

Teng Long University of Cambridge

Fan Ma Cardiff University

Veronique Martre UK Power Networks

Thiago Mendonça Imperial College London

John Mestitz Techna

Wenlong Ming Cardiff University

John Moutafidis UK Power Networks

Anuj Nayyar Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd

Colin Nicholl UK Power Networks

John Nwobu redT energy/Newcastle University

Milijana Odavic University of Sheffield

Max Parker University of Strathclyde

Julio Perez Olvera Imperial College London

Joe Petrie PPM

Robin Preece University of Manchester

Han Qin The University of Warwick

Paul Silcock Bristol BlueGreen Ltd

Kyle Smith University of Strathclyde

Christopher Southgate GTC

Iain Strachan Ensto UK

Hassan Taghizadeh Aston University

Simon Terry Ricardo Energy & Environment

Davy Thielens PA Consulting

Andrew Urquhart Loughborough University

Cliff Walton Ricardo Energy & Environment

Jianguo Wang The University of Warwick

James Watson UK Power Networks

Martyn Wimshurst AET

Ruizhu Wu University of Warwick

James Wylie Imperial College London

Jawwad Zafar Power Networks Demonstration Centre

11 | P a g e

Venue Information IET London: Savoy Place

Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL

Savoy Place is located in the heart of London and is fully accessible by all major transport links in the

capital. See http://savoyplace.theiet.org/about/travel-accommodation/index.cfm for more

information.

London Underground Savoy Place is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the following stations:

Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line)

Embankment (Northern, Bakerloo, Circle and District Lines)

London Charing Cross (Northern and Bakerloo Lines)

Temple (Circle and District Lines)

Waterloo Station (Jubilee and Northern Lines)

Bike There is a docking station for Santander Cycles hire outside the IET London: Savoy Place

River Boat Alight at Embankment Pier, Oyster and contactless cards accepted on the Thames Clipper services

Busses The main bus service for the Victoria Embankment is the 388, although there are many other

available bus routes on The Strand and over Waterloo Bridge which will bring you within short

walking distance of the venue.

Road Use postcode “WC2R 0BL” for directions. There is limited parking outside the IET London: Savoy

Place behind the Embankment Gardens on metered bays. Alternatively, there is an NCP car park just

two minutes drive from the venue in Drury Lane, Covent Garden. Please note that IET London: Savoy

Place is located within the congestion charge zone.

12 | P a g e

Room Locations Second Floor (Presentation & Workshop Sessions)

Third Floor (Lunch)

13 | P a g e

Delegate’s Notes