New Thames Valley Vision : LCNF Tier 2 SDRC 9.8(a) Part 4 Report Cold Thermal LV Network Energy Storage

Abstract:

This document is a Knowledge Sharing Report for the same trial that produced the New Thames Valley Vision - Ice Bear Dataset.

NTVV is a Low Carbon Network Fund Tier 2 project selected during the 2011 funding round. This five year project is focussed on the LV network and aims to demonstrate how electricity distribution networks can better serve their customers by understanding, anticipating and supporting their energy use as they move towards low carbon technologies. The project explores a mixture of analytic, technological and commercial solutions.

The NTVV project explores energy storage solutions, including hot thermal, cold thermal and battery storage. The cold thermal storage part of this project involves the installation of Cold Thermal Storage devices within the study area. This will help Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution (SSEPD) and other Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) understand the benefits to network operation that these units could bring. Under this project, cold thermal (Ice Bear) units have been installed to shift the operation of commercial Air Conditioning (AC) condensing units from on-peak periods to off-peak periods on the LV network. Energy storage has the potential to reduce electric system demand, improve electric system load factor, reduce the amount of investments needed in the network, and improve the overall electric system efficiency and power quality. Customers can also benefit from lower off-peak rates for electricity for the majority of energy consumed in cooling their premises. The Ice Bear units deployed in NTVV are, at their most basic, a large thermal storage tank that attaches directly to an existing building AC system.

Cold thermal storage technology has been installed at three commercial premises and relevant information relating installation requirement(s), permissions, unit costs, safety considerations and associated time scales for this technology have been included within this report.

Trials of the three cold thermal storage devices have been completed following the installation and commissioning of the devices in July 2015. Data from the devices has been transmitted from the Ice Energy web portal and analysed to understand the effects of the units on the Low Voltage (LV) network. The data collated as part of the cold thermal storage technology trials has enabled the project team to assess the technology and outline how the learning from the trials could influence future deployment.

The information presented within this report delivers the learning applicable to cold thermal storage as outlined in Learning Outcome 4 as the learning presented within this report provides an understanding of both: 1) the effect of deployment on the LV network within different customer premises, in technical, geographical and in turn climatic conditions not previously trialled; and 2) the value to commercial customers in terms of energy savings and economic payback.

This report meets the requirements of the New Thames Valley Vision (NTVV) Full Bid Submission and the associated change control documentation that was formally agreed by Ofgem for Successful Delivery Reward Criteria (SDRC) 9.8(a) Cold Thermal LV Network Energy Storage.

Publication Year:

2015

Publisher:

SSEN

DOI:

No DOI minted

Author(s):

Edwards, C., Martin, J. and Potter, R.