Conference programme Savoy Place, London, 23rd October 2008
9:30 – Coffee and Registration
10:00 – Opening Introduction; Professor Tim Green, Imperial College London
The Challenge - An Overview: Tera Allas, BERR
10:15 – The Nature of a Flexible Network: Chair: Tim Green, Imperial College London
Scenarios for Future Power Networks: Dr. Graham Ault, University of Strathclyde
- Review of the outcomes of the recently completed OFGEM (Long-term Electricity Networks Scenarios) project
- Potential architectures of future networks
Managing intermittency: Professor Goran Strbac, Imperial College London
- Maintaining supply security in future UK system with significant contribution of wind generation
- Managing variability and unpredictability of wind generation in real time and role of demand response
- Transmission investment and access in system with wind generation
Technology solution to support integration of wind energy: Professor Nick Jenkins, Cardiff University
- AC and DC network solutions for connection of onshore and offshore wind farms
- Capability of large turbines to support system operation
- Future Grid Codes
11:30 – Coffee Break
12:00 – Policies to Enable Intermittent Generation: Chair, Professor Matthew Leach, University of Surrey
Market Design for Flexible Operation: Dr Karsten Neuhoff, University of Cambridge
- Congestion management
- Balancing markets
- System services
Market Design to Facilitate Investment: Professor Richard Green, University of Birmingham
- Investment incentives
- Innovation policy
Network Charging Methodologies: Dr Furong Li, University of Bath
- Current approaches in transmission and distribution network pricing
- Quantification of relative merits
- Options for improvement
13:15 – Buffet lunch
14:15 – Benefits and Challenges for Flexible Network Operation: Chair, Professor Goran Strbac, Imperial College London
Transmission: Dr Keith Bell, University of Strathclyde
- Opportunities and challenges for application of flexible controls
- Techniques to quantify benefits and risks
- Case study: benefits of demand management and phase shifting transformers
- Impact on incentive regulation framework
Distribution: Dr Graeme Burt, University of Strathclyde
- Challenges for active distribution management
- Opportunity for better network utilisation
- Challenges for protection and control
- Flexibility to facilitate increased connection of distributed generation
15:15 – Coffee
15:45 – Public Engagement: Chair, To be confirmed
Public understanding of network technologies: Dr Patrick Devine Wright, University of Manchester
- Critique of the ‘information deficit’ assumption of public understanding
- Social representations of the ‘national grid’ and specific grid technologies
Everyday thinking about electricity supply failure: Ms Fionnguala Sherry Brennan, University of Manchester
- ‘Keeping the lights on’ - the political and cultural significance of maintaining power supply
- Social representations of power failure, including likely prevalence and perceived causes
- Public beliefs about the impacts of increasing renewable energy for maintaining power supply
16:30 – Summing up and Conclusions: Professor Tim Green, Imperial College London
16:35 – End