Power Networks Research Academy
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Abstract
Since the early 1990s, there has been a steady reduction in the number of engineers working in this power sector, due to privatisation, restructuring and increased opportunities in other sectors. This has resulted in an unfavourable age profile in the industry and an anticipated future deficit. This situation was recognised and resulted in the creation of the IET Power Academy (PA) in 2004 to attract able and motivated students into power engineering courses at selected universities, using generous scholarships from the 16 partner power companies. Parallel to the engineering workforce decline in the electrical power industry, university-based research has also shrunk to a minimum in this area, with fewer academic staff available to teach undergraduates and perform research. This reduction in the pool of power engineers has inevitably had an impact on the availability of academic and research staff to:* teach electrical power engineering courses at undergraduate and taught post-graduate level. Of particular relevance here will be Power Academy and other home students as well as the overseas market in which the UK has been traditionally strong.* provide power networks engineering research solutions in the UK to respond to the challenges arising from power grid renewal, the impact of government low carbon policies, and to ensure future network resilience.This application for the creation of the Power Networks Research Academy (PNRA) will provide a future supply of academic/research staff for the UK university sector. The PNRA, by awarding PhD scholarships, will establish effective mechanisms to enable power network companies and related manufacturers and suppliers to work effectively with universities in helping to fund and support needed areas of research. The PNRA and the PA, thus, have a common aim, but with different destinations, of providing future electrical power engineers. It is anticipated that the PA offers a useful template for the establishment of the PNRA and, in this first application for funding, the universities involved in the PA will, similarly, be part of the PNRA consortium. From the industrial side, UK transmission and distribution network operators as well as manufacturers are supporting this proposal.
Organisations
- University of Strathclyde (Lead Research Organisation)
- Central Networks West plc (Project Partner)
- EDF Energy (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Scottish and Southern Energy (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- EA Technology (Project Partner)
- Scottish Power (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- The National Grid Co plc (Project Partner)
Publications
Adrees A
(2011)
Subsynchronous resonance in meshed networks with HVDC lines
Adrees A
(2016)
Optimal Compensation of Transmission Lines Based on Minimisation of the Risk of Subsynchronous Resonance
in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems
Adrees A
(2014)
Methodology for Evaluation of Risk of Subsynchronous Resonance in Meshed Compensated Networks
in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems
Azizipanah-Abarghooee R
(2016)
Corrective economic dispatch and operational cycles for probabilistic unit commitment with demand response and high wind power
in Applied Energy
Bottrell N
(2012)
Modeling microgrids with active loads
Bottrell N
(2013)
Dynamic Stability of a Microgrid With an Active Load
in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics
Cai D
(2016)
Roadmap for the deployment of WAMPAC in the future GB power system
in IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution
Chen L
(2017)
CF3I Gas Mixtures: Breakdown Characteristics and Potential for Electrical Insulation
in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery
Gonzalez-Longatt F
(2012)
Optimal Electric Network Design for a Large Offshore Wind Farm Based on a Modified Genetic Algorithm Approach
in IEEE Systems Journal
Harid N
(2016)
A Wireless System for Monitoring Leakage Current in Electrical Substation Equipment
in IEEE Access
Hartwig K
(2016)
Impact of Strategic Behavior and Ownership of Energy Storage on Provision of Flexibility
in IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy
Kamarudin, M.S.;
(2010)
A survey on the potential of CF3I gas as an alternative for SF6 in high voltage applications
Karimi M
(2017)
A New Centralized Adaptive Underfrequency Load Shedding Controller for Microgrids Based on a Distribution State Estimator
in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery
Lei A
(2018)
Equivalent traveling waves based current differential protection of EHV/UHV transmission lines
in International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems
Liu L
(2017)
Optimized Control of LCL-VSC Converter With Refined s-Parameter
in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery
Mahmud S
(2013)
Bridging in contaminated transformer oil under DC and AC electric field
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Mahmud S
(2012)
Bridging phenomenon in contaminated transformer oil
Mahmud S
(2015)
Experimental studies of influence of different electrodes on bridging in contaminated transformer oil
in IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation
Mahmud S
(2015)
Experimental studies of influence of DC and AC electric fields on bridging in contaminated transformer oil
in IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and Electrical Insulation
Milanovic J
(2013)
Identifying Generators at Risk of SSR in Meshed Compensated AC/DC Power Networks
in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems
Murray, K
(2014)
Wind related faults on the GB transmission network
Naidu K
(2017)
Performance investigation of ABC algorithm in multi-area power system with multiple interconnected generators
in Applied Soft Computing
Nanchian S
(2017)
Three-Phase State Estimation Using Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization
in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid
PHADKE A
(2016)
Improving the performance of power system protection using wide area monitoring systems
in Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy
Pipelzadeh Y
(2012)
System stability improvement through optimal control allocation in voltage source converter-based high-voltage direct current links
in IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution
Quirós-Tortós J
(2016)
Reducing excessive standing phase angle differences: A new approach based on OPF and wide area measurements
in International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems
Radojevic Z
(2013)
Smart Overhead Lines Autoreclosure Algorithm Based on Detailed Fault Analysis
in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid
| Description | The Power Networks Academy is delviering a portfolio of research advances to a number of distribution network operators who support the scheme. These include novel advances in power systems planning, fault prediction, equipment design, equipment and system monitoring, environmental concerns and security and stability. |
| Exploitation Route | Novel advances in power systems planning, fault prediction, equipment design, equipment and system monitoring, environmental concerns and security and stability. |
| Sectors | Energy |
| Description | The industry partners are currently funding translational activities that will transfer the research outcomes from key funded projects into ongoing use by the distribution network operators. These are in the areas of new plant design and monitoring of power quality on power lines. A fault prediction algorithm developed by one of the projects was recently adapted for online, continual, use within one of the network operator's control rooms. The research is therefore providing fault prediction functionality in a live environment, supporting the operation of the network and having an impact on risk, resilience and customer minutes lost. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Provided training to engineers from TNB Malaysia |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The engineers have advanced themselves through further knowledge of the field |
| URL | http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/b.pal |
| Description | Training to Engineers from Power Industry in Chile |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | The engineers from grid operator in Chile have now much advanced knowledge about power system and wind energy modelling |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/in/bikash-pal-0ba3a413/ |
| Description | By-Product Analysis of CF3I Gas Mixtures as an Alternative Interrupting Medium |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Start | 07/2015 |
| End | 12/2015 |
| Description | CF3I gas and mixture as an alternative to SF6 |
| Amount | £105,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2010 |
| End | 03/2014 |
| Description | Gas insulated lines for electrical power transport |
| Amount | £15,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of Wales |
| Department | Welsh European Funding Office |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2016 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | Maximising impact of alternatives to SF6 as an insulation medium |
| Amount | £27,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 11/2017 |
| Description | Overhead Line Measurement System (OHMS): further development of system |
| Amount | £16,200 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Start | 12/2016 |
| End | 11/2017 |
| Description | Overhead Line Measurement Systems (OHMS): Field Trial |
| Amount | £25,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Start | 07/2015 |
| End | 12/2015 |
| Description | Electricity system resilience |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited presentation on 'Electricity system resilience'; this was delivered in order to share information with other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | PNRA showcase |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | The event was the Low Carbon Networks Innovations ( LCNI) conference organised in Manchester the PNRA together with HUBNET manned a stand with poster displays of the work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |