FlexNet - Challenges

FutureNet scenario assessments and the rate of change of development in generation, load management and intelligent networks have led us to the conclusion that the development of flexible networks - able to cost-effectively deal with a wide range of possible futures - is crucial and such flexibility should be at the centre of the next stage of research work.

Some key questions to be addressed are:

•  How can we judge the degree of flexibility needed?
•  How can flexibility be achieved?
•  How much flexibility should come from primary plant giving margin and how much from secondary plant giving enhanced controllability?
•  What constrains or encourages flexibility, what technologies are acceptable and what economic frameworks and public policies provide flexibility at the least overall long term cost?

The challenge of creating a flexible network is not simply an engineering challenge. Public attitudes to new technologies and extensions of existing technologies will be a major factor in how the network can develop and differences in attitudes to the way in which energy resources are exploited in different regions of the country make this a complex picture.

The development of flexible markets and associated incentives to invest in an efficient degree of flexibility will also be critical.

It is also clear that much of the flexibility required must come from radically different ways of operating plant to make it more flexible. Largely this is seen to be about developing the analytical tools and control regimes to achieve this.