Work on a £30 million research project which trialled and monitored various smart technologies and interventions across the Thames Valley region is now complete.

The six-year New Thames Valley Vision (NTVV) scheme was led by Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks' (SSEN).

It explored a number of different innovative and new methods on achieving a reliable system, including electricity network monitoring, battery storage and thermal storage.

Over 300 low voltage (LV) substation monitors were installed, with supporting infrastructure, to capture real-time electricity data. In addition, 25 street side battery storage units, Energy Storage and Management Units, were installed in Bracknell to support the LV network, while NTVV also trialled hot and cold thermal storage technology. This included the installation of 103 hot thermal units within domestic properties, which were used to reduce the peak export of electricity generated from solar panels on to the LV network by using it locally instead.


Elsewhere, three cold thermal storage systems were installed at commercial premises to provide cooled air as an alternative to the existing air conditioning equipment. These units successfully demonstrated the capability for shifting peak demand.

Stewart Reid, Head of Asset Management and Innovation at SSEN, said: "We used Thames Valley Vision as an opportunity to trial technologies and methods to help us make the transition to a smart network – which, as a concept, was in its infancy when we started the project in 2011.

"We identified the key areas needing addressed, such as monitoring and visibility on the network, and how you can improve forecasting and modelling to anticipate future demand. The project was used as an opportunity to test interventions, such as storage devices, low cost monitoring and a wider range of methods, which allows operating the network to be done in a much smarter way.

"We have shared the findings of the project with other DNOs so the whole industry can benefit from its findings."

(LM/CD)