Supergen FlexNet : Vision

Vision

EPSRC agreed in October 2006 that the consortium should take forward its challenging research agenda for a further four years commencing in October 2007, in a £7m project to deliver energy that is secure, clean and affordable. The project has been extended for a further six months.

FlexNet is putting in place a substantial body of work that will build on the achievements of FutureNet and lay out the major steps, technical, economic, market design, public acceptance and others, that will lead to flexible networks, including starting to showcase these so that they can be taken up by the commercial sector, Government and Regulators for practical implementation.

FlexNet's contributions include:

Analysis for the European Climate Foundation, giving techno-economic support for transmission expansion across Europe.
Specific progress on the control and optimisation techniques which could implement transmission capacity expansion in the UK through smarter use of existing transmission corridors.
Work on multi-terminal HVDC to support far off-shore wind, which has established good engagement with both a manufacturer and a network operator.
Working on the LENS project, which continues to have impact, as well as assessing building heating and electric transport implications for energy networks.
For the active management of distribution networks we have used the example of the Orkney registered power zone to test specific control ideas.
Research on power electronic applications in distribution has produced a prototype new diverter switch and a demonstration case for soft-open-points.

Alongside achieving specific research outcomes, reflected in over 80 scientific publications in 2010, and many more over the life of the project, the consortium continues to provide policy advice to Ofgem, DECC and at European level to aid policy makers in this technical area. Our programme of PhD student placements has expanded and cross-discipline training courses have been run to address the development needs of our 40 PhD students.

The name FlexNet provides linkage to the first FutureNet programme whilst recognising the distinctive aspects of the work now to be done, and 'Thinking Networks' emphasises the consortium's intention to both 'think about networks', and to develop networks that can 'think' for themselves.

FlexNet research continues under the auspices of HubNet:



Vision Publications Objectives Training Work-streams University Partners Industrial Partners Events Links Research Impacts Members' Login	Vision EPSRC agreed in October 2006 that the consortium should take forward its challenging research agenda for a further four years commencing in October 2007, in a £7m project to deliver energy that is secure, clean and affordable. The project has been extended for a further six months. FlexNet is putting in place a substantial body of work that will build on the achievements of FutureNet and lay out the major steps, technical, economic, market design, public acceptance and others, that will lead to flexible networks, including starting to showcase these so that they can be taken up by the commercial sector, Government and Regulators for practical implementation. FlexNet's contributions include: Analysis for the European Climate Foundation, giving techno-economic support for transmission expansion across Europe. Specific progress on the control and optimisation techniques which could implement transmission capacity expansion in the UK through smarter use of existing transmission corridors. Work on multi-terminal HVDC to support far off-shore wind, which has established good engagement with both a manufacturer and a network operator. Working on the LENS project, which continues to have impact, as well as assessing building heating and electric transport implications for energy networks. For the active management of distribution networks we have used the example of the Orkney registered power zone to test specific control ideas. Research on power electronic applications in distribution has produced a prototype new diverter switch and a demonstration case for soft-open-points. Alongside achieving specific research outcomes, reflected in over 80 scientific publications in 2010, and many more over the life of the project, the consortium continues to provide policy advice to Ofgem, DECC and at European level to aid policy makers in this technical area. Our programme of PhD student placements has expanded and cross-discipline training courses have been run to address the development needs of our 40 PhD students. The name FlexNet provides linkage to the first FutureNet programme whilst recognising the distinctive aspects of the work now to be done, and 'Thinking Networks' emphasises the consortium's intention to both 'think about networks', and to develop networks that can 'think' for themselves. FlexNet research continues under the auspices of HubNet: www.hubnet.org.uk
© 2010 Supergen FutureNet