We've now begun testing innovative solutions and services to find new ways of managing peak electricity demand in the north of Scotland.
This new approach, which we are calling “Demand Diversification” will see us conduct real-world trials to manage electricity demand. These will be augmented by simulations run with the teams at the University of Strathclyde’s Power Network Demonstration Centre (PNDC) and the Energy Systems Catapult, scaling-up the data from the trials to give an accurate estimation of how this new solution would work at scale.
Because an electricity network is designed to meet the peak demands placed upon it, much of its capacity is underused for most of the day. Our new solution recognises and complements these circumstances, by giving customers incentives to spread their demand to less busy times, tapping into the ability of technologies, like EVs, heat pumps, and electric storage heaters, to be scheduled to periods when network demand is lower.
The move away from fossil fuels is going to lead to much more demand for electricity. We believe solutions such as Demand Diversification will have a role both in helping to save consumers money, and reducing waiting times for some new network connections.
How the trial will work
The overarching priority for us during this trial will be to ensure that the network continues to work in a safe, dependable, and enduring way.
One potential solution is to have Flexibility Service Providers (FSPs), suppliers and aggregators, assigned an ‘Allocated Capacity’ and agree to manage the aggregate demand from their consumers within this allocation. They will be paid when they do so.
As well as Allocated Capacity, another, more dynamic, solution is being trialled. Under ‘Dynamic Congestion Response’, FSPs will be provided with real-time network data and will be paid to schedule the loads in their portfolios to times of lower demand. Doing so will also trigger payment.
Kevin Stewart, Projects Manager in SSEN Distribution’s Future Networks team, says,
“Electricity demand is going to grow exponentially, as more people stop using polluting fossil fuels, and instead move over to low-carbon technologies. A massive advantage of technologies such as heat pumps, EVs, and electric storage heaters is that topping them up is schedulable – in other words, they can be charged at a time separate to when they’re needed.
“In our trial, we’re going to lean into this schedulable aspect of these technologies, to explore how we can use innovative approaches and new services to schedule electricity use over a much wider period.
“It’s paramount we manage the network in a safe, reliable, and enduring way. This trial will offer further insights into how this can be done; it’ll also provide us with an indication of the extent to which we’ll be able to use these flexible approaches to help meet growing electricity demand.”
Dr Priya Bhagavathy, Lead Engineer for Whole Systems at PNDC, says:
“We’re thrilled to build on our longstanding partnership with SSEN and Energy Systems Catapult’s Living Lab to create innovative virtual network models using real-world data from Living Lab participants.
“These advanced models will enable us to explore and analyse a wide range of network configurations, accommodating different load types and varying levels of Demand Diversification Services integration.
“This pioneering project has the potential to unlock tailored tariffs and products for vulnerable customers, enabling them to enjoy financial and operational benefits by contributing to demand diversification for Distribution Network Operators.”
Rebecca Sweeney, Business Lead for Homes at Energy Systems Catapult, says:
“Through this partnership with SSEN and PNDC, the Catapult’s Living Lab and WESA provide a cutting-edge testbed for trialling flexibility services with consumers already using low carbon technologies. WESA's ability to simulate network topologies and map consumers across diverse scenarios enables us to model very high levels of low carbon technology uptake, which are not yet feasible on real-world networks.
"This capability allows SSEN to rapidly test the impacts of flexibility services on network assets and explore innovative solutions like Demand Diversification.
"By using WESA’s unique feedback loop to react in real time to asset loading, this trial demonstrates how demand can be managed dynamically and efficiently. Together, these insights will shape how SSEN operates its networks, optimising existing infrastructure, and delivering tailored benefits to customers, including those in vulnerable circumstances, while supporting the transition to a Net Zero future."