The urgent need for greater visibility and control of network assets

The move towards a flexible energy system demands a greater level of intelligence and interconnectivity across the electricity distribution network. According to Peter Couch, chief executive of the Joint Radio Company, this will require a different approach to operational telecommunications infrastructure, which is currently unfit for the purposes of reaching net zero.

The UK’s energy networks are undertaking a transition from centralised energy generation to a model where it is distributed via a larger and more diverse range of generation sources – resulting in a shift from a passive to an active or “smart grid” where energy flows in two directions.

This shift to an active and distributed grid demands a greater level of intelligence and interconnectivity (sensors, communications and control) and automation across the entire distribution network, in order to ensure co-ordination, efficiency, responsiveness, safety, security and resilience of supply.

Historically, energy networks have largely been passive – composed of only a small number of active control components at the High Voltage layer. The operational telecommunications systems used have typically been narrowband, employing a mixture of wired and wireless connectivity solutions. In the case of wireless connectivity, a relatively limited amount of radio spectrum has been utilised to date.  The ‘top down’ approach of energy supply required no visibility of what was happening at the edges of the network (LV) and relatively limited visibility at MV.

However, as the UK’s energy networks have become more dynamic both from a supply and demand perspective – incorporating distributed generation and storage alongside the adoption of high energy-consumption but low carbon emitting technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps – there is an increased need for active control.

For electricity this will require control components within the medium and low voltage layers – effectively turning the monitoring and control (and connectivity) hierarchy upside down. So, rather than requiring connectivity at low data rate to a small number of very large, centralised, critical assets, the future scenario will require higher bandwidth connections to a much larger number (100 x) of distributed assets each of which will play a critical part in the future network (individually & collectively) with the number of wireless connections expected to grow significantly leveraging their cost effectiveness and flexibility.

Within the gas networks additional capability is required as hydrogen and other green gases are added to the mix of the energy system.

This significant increase in the number of connected assets will result in a dramatic increase in data flows necessary to operate the energy system in real time, requiring a corresponding expansion in the need for connectivity including use of radio spectrum-based solutions.

Wireless based communication systems have always been a critical component of the operational command and control systems of the energy networks. The need for enhanced operational communications solutions has been under review for the past five years or more and work has been taking place with Ofcom through its Utilities Spectrum Strategies project which has been contributed to by Joint Radio Company and the Energy Networks Association’s Strategic Telecommunications Group (STG).

Ofcom’s study is exploring the spectrum access needs of the utility operators and considering what regulatory interventions may be required to enable efficient energy networks that meet the government’s future policy objectives. It is also important to note that government departments, DCMS and BEIS, are actively engaged in responding to the developing needs of the energy network operators through the net zero transition.

One common theme that regularly needs to be addressed when exploring the needs of the networks with policymakers is the limitations of publicly available communications services to address the critical operational needs of the sector, i.e resilience to mains power failure, reach, guaranteed quality of supply and availability, etc.

To this end JRC recently commissioned research by Gemserv  to establish the potential benefits and costs of an enhanced operational control solution via three different approaches: fibre, public cellular and private wireless. The Gemserv analysis clearly demonstrates the private wireless solution to be the most cost effective and capable option at a cost one twelfth of the benefit that would be realised – an annual net saving of £25 on every household’s energy bills.

JRC and the ENA-STG are committed to working closely with policymakers to ensure that the appropriate policy Interventions are enabled, e.g dedicated spectrum access to facilitate the net zero transition.