Accelerate progress towards a net zero world

NIA SSEN 0069 Low Voltage Power Quality (LVPQ)

Key Activities

The Low Voltage Power Quality (LVPQ) project aims to test a range of devices that can restore power quality and boost network capacity. Power quality is impacted by new demands on the network including Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs), which can cause issues with harmonics, voltage, and phase balance. Conventional reinforcement solutions take time and may not always be the most economical solution. Therefore, alongside flexibility, we need a suite of technology-based solutions to address these power quality issues.

Testing of these will occur at the Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC) and in SSEN’s network areas. The project will also develop the processes for the rapid assessment, selection and installation of the most appropriate solutions. The project has decided to focus on the impact of heat pumps on the network, especially when added as a retrofit heating system to older homes.

Expected Benefits

The main benefit to consumers will be the development of a more resilient network and a reduction in delays to the installation of LCT due to the requirement for time consuming reinforcement work. It will directly inform the new interventions we will use in ED3.

Progress

Work Package 1: We have now installed 15 power quality monitors in residential properties. These will communicate for up to a year and will provide power quality information to be used in future work packages. The chosen properties all have at least a heat pump, with several having more than one form of low carbon technology.

Work Packages 2–4: These three work packages relate
to obtaining power quality information from heat pumps at the PNDC, to complete the construction of an electrical model to be used in work package 5. Four heat pumps have been provided by different manufacturers. These have been run through several scenarios to help us understand the additive and reductive nature of harmonics when combined with several LCTs.