By Greentech Lead Europe: Locamation, a developer and
supplier of independent Smart Grid automation products, will conduct a pilot
with Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) Western Power Distribution and UK
Power Networks, two of the largest power distribution networks in the UK.
The pilot, currently scheduled to run for one year, will
equip a number of secondary substations with Locamation’s SASensor MLV.
SASensor MLV enables measurement and monitoring of grid patterns at a low
voltage level.
Western Power Distribution and UK Power Networks are
initiating this pilot under the Low Carbon Networks Fund (LCNF) Tier 1. The
LCNF is aims to provide increased understanding of the network
condition in support of Great Britain’s transition to a low carbon
economy.
The LCNF was established by Ofgem and offers up to GBP
500m support to projects sponsored by the DNOs to try out new technology,
operating and commercial arrangements.
The “SASensor MLV” is a scalable and flexible
solution to digitize secondary substations allowing DNOs complete web based
management of low voltage networks with full remote data collection and
monitoring including support and training for the installation.
Locamation will supply the “SASensor MLV” to
both Western Power Distribution and UK Power Networks without any customer
service interruption using Locamation’s split-core sensor technology.
“Locamation has 40 percent contracted market share in
Dutch HMV substations with SASensors operational in more than 40 primary
substations of the largest DNO in the Netherlands. We are delighted to enter
the pilot with Western Power Distribution and UK Power Networks and to help
them prepare for the transition to secure more reliable, affordable and
sustainable energy supplies and hope this is the beginning of a long standing,
comprehensive and successful partnership,” said Pascal Bleeker, Locamation’s COO.
UK Power Networks selects CURRENT
Recently, UK Power Networks and Western Power
Distribution selected CURRENT’s Connected Intelligence power quality analytic
sensors for a pilot project in the U.K. The projects at UK Power
Networks and WPD will use smart analytics to gather and analyze electrical grid
information with the aim of better understanding the implications of the
growing use of low carbon technologies on network planning.