29 September 2008 12:21 Central Networks first to power up increased renewable energy connections

Central Networks this week became the UK's first electricity distributor to switch on an innovative system designed to connect the country's growing number of wind farms without the need for new overhead power lines.

The Ofgem-backed Registered Power Zone (RPZ) will allow some renewable energy generators to connect to the network between Boston and Skegness on the Lincolnshire coast at a much lower cost and without the need to build as much expensive new infrastructure.

Using live information on air temperature, wind speed and power demand, engineers can make best use of existing power lines and send power where it is most needed. More power can be carried on already-established lines if air temperatures are lower or if stronger winds cool the lines.

"The wind which cools the lines is the wind which generates the electricity," said Jeff Douglas, Head of Network Strategy & Development at Central Networks. "The stronger the wind, the more electricity is produced and the more power our network can carry."

Central Networks is the first to launch a Registered Power Zone, supported by Ofgem to help Britain meet its future targets for renewable energy.

"We welcome Central Networks' successful commissioning of the first RPZ," said Ofgem Networks Managing Director Steve Smith. "We look forward to seeing more RPZs in the future."

The RPZ was launched at Central Networks' East Midlands HQ by Managing Director John Crackett. He commended Ofgem's "foresight" in developing the RPZ incentive scheme and said: "We believe RPZs will have an important role in a sustainable future by maximising wind generation capacity while minimising the building of overhead lines.

"We have to change the networks if we want to change energy."

Rather than spend £5 million on a new overhead line to cope with new onshore and offshore wind generation, the company spent £500,000 developing the innovative technique to increase the capacity of its 132KV line between Skegness and Boston by more than 30 percent.

The system constantly monitors three weather stations and four line temperature sensing ‘donuts', allowing it to operate close to 100 per cent of its maximum capacity.

The system could become a forerunner of the ‘smart' network management that will be needed if the UK is to increase its renewable, distributed and micro generation.

"This isn't a magic formula for large offshore schemes, but a step towards active real-time network management that will allow more distributed generation," said Jeff.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• Central Networks brings power to 4.9 million customers across central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables and via almost 97,000 substations;
• Central Networks covers an area from the Peak District in the north to parts of Bristol in the south, and from the Welsh Borders to the Lincolnshire Coast.

For further information contact:

Andrew Barrow on 024 7618 3677
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