Feasibility study to unlocking flexibility from within industrial and commercial users.
Status:
Complete
Project Reference Number:
NIA_NGTO0031
START DATE:
END DATE:

Project summary
Funding mechanism:
  • Network Innovation Allowance
Research area:
  • ET - Transition to low carbon future
Technology:
  • Demand Side Management
Expenditure:
£214,000
Summary
Learnings
Documents

This study aims to develop, improve and adapt some of the techniques that could be used to unlock flexibility for large industrial and commercial customers. This will allow participation in a wider range of ancillary services. To demonstrate the validity of the techniques proposed the steel making industry will be used as a case study. The practicalities of different solutions (e.g. Demand Side Response, Black Start, Balancing DNO/DSO/SO requirements) will be assessed considering the technical constraints and adaptions that may be required.

Benefits

Industrial customers can provide flexibility much more cost-effectively helping to build a smarter, more responsive system. This supports renewables and the wider UK transition to a zero-carbon economy by reducing reliance on fossil fuel power stations.  The steel sector is identified with high demand response potential.

This will reduce the energy costs of the industrial user, through plant optimisation in response to market and wider system requirements.

The work to be undertaken is still at proof of concept level therefore financial benefits can not be quantified.  If all the problems are solved a significant reduction in energy cost and CO2 emissions can be achieved.