System operations
How we're developing our power system operations to better support renewable energy.
Evolving our power system
We're planning for the future of our power system. A significant part of this is supporting more renewable energy sources. We aim to accommodate unprecedented levels of nonsynchronous renewable generation on the power system. This includes offshore wind, onshore wind and solar.
Doing this will bring some unique challenges. We need to make changes while maintaining a safe, secure power system.
Our approach
The Shaping Our Electricity Future roadmap includes system operations. It's divided into four main work streams.
Operational policy
The operational policy workstream involves undertaking operational studies and analysis. From this, we'll develop policies to facilitate the transition to 80% RES-E by 2030. We will achieve this by:
- Identifying technical scarcities and operational needs
- Developing operational protocols, policies and procedures
- System studies to evolve key operational metrics including SNSP, inertia and system strength
- Policies to operate the grid with new system services provision capabilities, operational systems and tools
Standards and services
This workstream ensures we have standards and frameworks to invest in the required capability. We'll achieve this by:
- Clarifying the system technical needs
- Bringing forward modifications to the Grid Code and working with DSOs on the Distribution Code
- Developing technical requirements for the framework to procure system services
- Publishing standards that service providers must meet
- Developing a framework for flexible network management
Operational tools
This workstream involves delivering enhanced and new integrated control centre technologies. These support secure and efficient system operation with increased renewable energy. They also meet the needs of new demand, interconnectors, and scheduling and dispatch processes.
We'll achieve this by:
- Identifying the needs for enhanced and new tools
- Developing IT, data management and physical infrastructure to support these developments
- Ensuring interfaces and data exchanges are in place with DSOs and other stakeholders
- Ensuring appropriate training in using tools
Technology enablement
This workstream facilitates new technologies and innovations on the power system. We'll achieve this by:
- Addressing the challenges of integrating large-scale storage technology
- Facilitating system services from new RES, existing RES and small-scale flexible generation
- Enabling demand side flexibility to maximise its potential
- Engaging large energy users to investigate how they can contribute to system flexibility
- Reviewing emerging technologies with industry and academia