Regional Development Programmes
Regional Development Programmes are studies which look at the complex interaction between the distribution and transmission networks, also between different distribution networks. As part of the Energy Networks Association Open Networks project, we have undertaken different RDPs on different areas of our network. Please follow the links below to access further information.
The South West Regional Development Programme was completed in conjunction with National Grid. The South West is an area of the country with large amounts of solar generation on sunny spring and summer days but with low customer demand at these times. This means there are complex interactions between our distribution network and National Grid’s transmission network.
An executive summary of the South West Regional Development Strategy can be found here.
WPD NGESO RDP South West Peninsula Technical Report
This report summarises how detailed joint transmission and distribution network analysis showed benefits in understanding network security issues under conditions not previously experienced, and enabled the investigation of a range of build and operational solutions to show under what conditions whole-system solutions could benefit both consumers and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) project developers.
WPD NGESO Whole System Analysis Report
This report summarises the outcome of a joint whole-system study of an area of north Devon and north Cornwall, which sought to identify network issues as the Distributed Energy Resource (DER) levels increase; and find the most economical solution for consumers, taking into account distribution/transmission build and non-build solutions.
WPD NGESO RDP Process Report
This report sets out the processes that were followed to deliver the joint RDP work that is summarised in the South West Peninsula Technical Report and Whole System Analysis Report.
Both transmission and distribution future energy scenarios have highlighted significant growth in energy storage within the UK over the next decade, anticipating that a high growth scenario could see more than 10GW of energy storage being connected in the UK by 2030. National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) currently has over 840MW of energy storage either connected or accepted in the West Midlands licence area and this is beginning to impact on the reinforcement requirements for transmission assets at the T-D boundary.
Flexibility services have been developed to provide efficient options for the connection of embedded generation. This RDP is looking to extend the flexibility arrangements given to generation so that they apply for storage demand, giving customers more choice and lowering costs to consumers. This will enable storage projects to become part of the solution to network capacity issues rather than capacity planning standards being a potential blocker to them.
This RDP also seeks to allow energy storage, or other customers who can provide flexibility to the system, to participate in these emerging whole system energy markets and receive revenues for delivering services when the system needs flexibility to deliver capacity in constrained areas.
A high-level plan of RDP deliverables can be found here.
WPD Energy Storage Technical Report
This report summarises the way to assess Battery Energy Storage (BES) during the connection and planning process including how the network companies can manage and incentivise BES to connect and operate efficiently in a way that brings value to consumers. This is the outcome of a joint whole-system analysis by National Grid System Operator (NGESO), National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) and National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), of West Midland area which sought to identify network issues as battery storage levels increase.
West Midlands RDP plan can be found here.