Equilibrium project wins £11.5m LCNF funding

We have secured £11.5million as part of energy regulator Ofgem’s Low Carbon Networks Fund (LCNF).

The cash will support a project designed to balance voltages and power flows across the electricity distribution system.

Called Network Equilibrium, it will operate as part of a trial across our Somerset and Devon areas, potentially unlocking an additional 344 megawatts of additional generation capacity locally.

Roger Hey, Future Networks Manager said: “I’m thrilled with the news that our LCNF bid was successful. It will enable us to continue to develop methods, used in other projects supported by LCNF, and to integrate distributed generation within electricity networks more efficiently while delivering major benefits to distribution customers.”

For the first time in the UK, the project will demonstrate a 33kV flexible power link device between networks that are difficult to run in parallel.

“In simple terms, once developed this flexible link will allow us to move power around the network where it is needed when customers adopt greater use of electric vehicles and heat pumps,” said Roger.

Work on the project is set to begin in March 2015 and will run for four years.