1. p1 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 The Challenges to Decarbonise & Rewire Britain Professor Janusz W. Bialek Institute for Energy Systems The University of Edinburgh, UK Visiting Professor The University of Hong Kong

2. p2 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Outline l High-level view l Current research drivers for power system research l UK response to the drivers (as seen from Edinburgh)

3. p3 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Institute for Energy Systems, The University of Edinburgh l IES research maps along the renewable energy supply chain from studying the location, extent and characteristics of the resources, through their mechanical and electrical conversion, into storage and finally electrical transmission, distribution and utilisation. l Intrinsically multi-disciplinary activities range from fundamental through applied research to pre-commercial development, supported by RCUK, Scottish Executive, Carbon Trust, Scottish Enterprise, DTI and industry. Current grant portfolio over £10M. l 13 academic staff, 16 research staff and 36 postgraduate students l Joint Research Institutes in the Edinburgh Research Partnership, which combines research skills at Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities

4. p4 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 JRI Energy Groupings l Marine Energy and Coastal Defence l Renewable Energy and Climate l Energy Conversion and Network Delivery l Photovoltaics and Solar Energy l Fuel Cells and Energy Storage l Urban Energy Demand and Supply

5. p5 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Research Drivers for Power System Research in the UK since 2000 l Push towards sustainability and decarbonisation of Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) l Rewiring Britain l but don’t forget about maintaining the security of supply and the market environment

6. p6 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Sustainability and decarbonisation of Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) l ESI contributes about 1/3 to CO2 emissions, Kyoto and Bali, 20-30% targets l Explosion in UK funding for energy research l Traditional academic research: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). –Flagship initiative: Sustainable Power Generation and Supply (SuperGen) l Industrial research: Innovation Fund Initiative (IFI) to support R&D by utilities l Applied research: Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) co- funded by the industry (BP, Caterpillar, EDF Energy, E.ON, Rolls-Royce, Shell): £1bln over 10 years

7. p7 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 EPSRC SuperGen programme l Dominant mode of research funding in the UK: interdisciplinary consortia grouping the best Universities in the country l Critical mass to achieve step change rather than incremental progress l Each consortium contains 5-7 universities + industrial partners and has a freedom to specify research programme l 13 consortia funded: Marine energy, Future network technologies (FutureNet) renewed as Flexible Networks (FlexNet), Hydrogen energy, Biofuels, PV, Conventional power plant lifetime extension, Fuel cells, Highly distributed power systems, Energy storage, Excitonic solar cells, Wind energy, Asset Management and Performance of Energy Networks (AMPERES), Biofuel cells

8. p8 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Renewables in the UK: wind and waves Wind speeds

9. p9 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Challenges for power systems operation in achieving sustainable and decarbonised energy industry l Characteristics of renewables (intermittency etc) and their influence on power system operation l Implications for power system security l Need to understand and characterise the resource l Means of mitigation

10. p10 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Variability (intermittency) of wind is not a new problem John Loughhead: The 2007 IET President's address “The magic roundabout - cycles of energy”

11. p11 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Challenges for power systems operation in achieving sustainable and decarbonised energy industry l Characteristics of renewables (intermittency etc) and their influence on power system operation l Network charging and congestion management

12. p12 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 l Dominant North-South flows l Renewables (wind and marine) tend to be in wrong places (Scotland and Wales)! l Projections for 2020: intermittency of wind requires 120 GW generation serving 70GW load l Severe transmission congestion at times of high wind l Already congested distribution networks in Scotland and Wales l Construction of new lines is virtually impossible l New technical and commercial arrangements needed

13. p13 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Challenges for power systems operation in achieving sustainable and decarbonised energy industry l Characteristics of renewables (intermittency etc) and their influence on power system operation l Network charging and congestion management l Need for a smart grid due to: – replacement of a limited number of a limited number of controllable thermal power plants by a large number of poorly controllable renewable plants –Changes in distribution networks: active sources, reverse flows etc. –Better utilisation of distribution assets: from “invest and forget” to “connect and manage”

14. p14 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Response to the challenges – a view from Edinburgh l SuperGen FlexNet consortium l AURA-NMS consortium l Wind dynamics consortium

15. p15 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 SuperGen Flexible Networks (FlexNet) consortium http://www.supergen-networks.org.uk/

16. p16 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Autonomous Regional Active - Network Management System (AURA-NMS) consortium http://www.aura-nms.co.uk/index.asp

17. p17 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Wind dynamics consortium l wind-induced 3P oscillations (tower shadow effect) in Northern Ireland l The amplitude much higher than expected (about 10% of output) l Frequency ~0.6 Hz, the same as the well-known inter-area oscillation frequency - resonance effect l Risk for the power system?

18. p18 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Research Drivers since 2000 l Sustainability and decarbonisation of Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) l Rewiring Britain

19. p19 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 UK Network is ageing and needs to be replaced Source: Robin Maclaren, ScottishPower The aim: smoothing out the second peak UK Distribution Gross Capital Expenditure 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 1950/511960/611970/711980/811990/912000/012010/112020/212030/312040/41 £m (97/98 Prices) Actual capexCapex for replace on 40yr life

20. p20 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 SuperGen V: Asset Management and Performance of Energy Networks (AMPerES) l Consortium of 6 universities and 10 network operators, 2006-2010 l http://www.supergen-amperes.org/

21. p21 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008

22. p22 ©J.W. Bialek, 2008 Conclusions l Current main drivers: sustainability/decarbonisation of the Electricity Supply Industry and “rewiring Britain” l Maintain the security of supply and market-based solutions l The focus is shifting from transmission to distribution (active networks) – more to be gained l Potential for collaboration with HK/China l We are living in interesting times…