• SP Energy Networks has secured over 21m of funding from Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund for three projects
• As more people switch to low carbon technologies, network operators need to find new, innovative ways of managing increasing demand and these projects – D-Suite, Blade and Hubs – are helping to lead the way

SP Energy Networks has been awarded over £21m of funding – the largest allocation SP Energy Networks has received since the fund began – to move ahead with three critical projects as part of Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund.

The fund, an Ofgem programme managed in partnership with Innovation UK, supports projects looking to explore and prove innovative ways of using the electricity network to help ensure the network is fit for the future, helping to support the growth of renewables, increase the adoption of low carbon technologies and, ultimately, move towards a sustainable future.

Scott Mathieson of SP Energy Networks said: “Receiving this funding from Ofgem is a game-changer for these vital projects, allowing us to continue pushing boundaries and exploring innovative ways that our transmission and distribution networks can deliver benefits for all GB customers and support a sustainable future, all whilst maintaining world-leading levels of safety, reliability and resilience of supply.

“D-Suite, Blade and Flexible Railway Energy Hubs have received our largest allocation from the fund, which is an incredible achievement and combined with our own investment brings the total value of these projects to £25 million. We’re looking forward to continuing to work with the best of academia, science and technology to demonstrate the value these projects can bring to accelerate our progress to increase renewable electricity and the adoption of low carbon technologies.”

D-Suite, in partnership with UKPN, Newcastle University and Integrated Powertech, has been awarded over £8m to explore the feasibility of using power electronics – a way of controlling and converting voltage and current – on the low voltage distribution network. The use of this technology will help support the growth of low-carbon technologies by increasing available capacity on the network by between 20% to 40% while deferring or mitigating the need for costly and disruptive reinforcement solutions.

A major aim of the project is to create a fully automated low voltage design tool which will allow for rapid adoption of the technology by other DNOs, reducing training and upskilling requirements, while future-proofing the network and informing network planning, design and investment decisions.

Almost £5m has been awarded to Blade – a project that will investigate and demonstrate how offshore windfarms can be used to restore the electricity network following a national power outage, ensuring the GB electricity network remains resilient and robust as the reliance on renewable energy sources increases. The Blade project is adopting a whole systems approach, working with partners such as SSEN, National HVDC Centre, University of Strathclyde and Carbon Trust as well as an advisory panel, made up of offshore windfarm developers and original equipment manufacturers to influence the design of a potential commercial mechanism to be adopted industry-wide.

The project will provide key learnings for the industry and enable offshore windfarms to provide restoration services, offering an alternative source of restoration that is low in carbon, contributing to the UK’s net zero targets.

Flexible Railway Energy Hubs, awarded over £8m, will demonstrate for the first time a new microgrid solution to help create a predictable and cost-effective use of power on the railway. These microgrids will connect to local renewable energy sources to power trains.

The project, in collaboration with Network Rail’s Research and Development team and project partners University of Leeds, Ricardo Energy and Environment and GE Vernova, could pave the way for a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the rail network and support the replacement of diesel trains – without the need for major infrastructure upgrades – to deliver a low emission railway quicker and more cost effectively.