NEWS
linking France and UK will now go ahead
IFA2 cable project
Voltage controllers offer benefits for UK customers, says ENW
Voltage controllers which are claimed to save consumers millions of pounds are being rolled out by Electricity North West (ENW). It is part of the power operator’s CLASS project, which it says could save customers in the North West around £100 million over the next 25 years – and £300 million across Britain. The technology, developed
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has issued a comprehensive decision about the IFA2 (Interconnexion France-Angleterre) project under the TEN-E Regulations, after it attained all of the required statutory consents in UK consenting regime. The IFA2 interconnector is a 1,000mw high voltage
direct current (HVDC) link, which will run from Normandy in France to Hampshire in England. The project is being carried out by National Grid IFA2 Ltd and RTE. MMO Senior Marine Licensing Manager Matthew Kinmond told UKPN: “This is the first comprehensive decision from the MMO under the TEN-E Regulations and the first in the UK for a cross-border and multiple consenting regime interconnector project. It represents a major milestone for the IFA2 project.” Dave Luetchford Head of IFA2 from National Grid told
UKPN: “Enhancing the UK’s energy connection to France will bring a number of benefits, including increasing security of electricity supplies for both countries and providing opportunities for shared use of renewable energy.” A high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) electric power transmission system like this (also called a power super highway or an electrical super highway) uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current (AC) systems. For long-distance transmission, HVDC systems may be
less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses. For underwater power cables, HVDC avoids the heavy currents required to charge and discharge the cable capacitance each cycle. For shorter distances, the higher cost of DC conversion equipment compared to an AC system may still be justified, due to other benefits of direct current links. HVDC allows power transmission between unsynchronised AC transmission systems. Since the power flow through an HVDC link can be controlled independently of the phase angle between source and load, it can stabilize a network against disturbances due to rapid changes in power.
HVDC also allows transfer of power between grid systems running at different frequencies, such as 50 Hz and 60 Hz. This improves the stability and economy of each grid, by allowing exchange of power between incompatible networks.
in partnership with Schneider Electric, is being installed in
up to 260 major substations across the region, which serve nearly two million people. According to ENW, detailed research carried out during a 12-month trial showed customers did not notice any change in their power supply when the voltage controllers were in action. Engineering and Technology Director Steve Cox told UKPN: “The way electricity is generated, delivered and used is changing quicker
than ever before. “This ground-breaking approach can be used to help balance electricity supply and demand thropughout the UK.” A voltage controller is an electronic module based on either thyristors, TRIACs, SCRs or IGBTs, which converts a fixed voltage, fixed frequency alternating current (AC) electrical input supply to obtain variable voltage in output delivered to a resistive load.
UK’s Big Six suppliers SSE and npower are currently in merger talks
Big Six companies SSE and npower are in talks about merging their businesses to
create a giant energy supplier in the UK. German utility innogy, parent company of npower, and SSE are in “advanced exclusive discussions” about combining their gas and electricity supply business in the UK. Such a deal would possibly see the Big Six turn into a Big Five. SSE serves around 7.8 million households while npower has 4.8 million. According to an official annoucement, the suppliers said: “The combined business would be
listed and SSE would demerge its shares to its shareholders. No binding agreements regarding the terms of the combination have been entered into at this stage.” SSE added: “In discussions, SSE is mindful of the requirements of customers and the concerns of employees. It will disclose the outcome of the discussions as soon as they are concluded.” The news follows the government’s launch of the draft bill to cap energy prices. The cap is expected to prove challenging to some of the biggest suppliers as it would apply to standard variable and default tariffs. SSE, formerly known as Scottish and Southern Energy, supplies energy to 7.77 million households while Npower serves 4.8 million. A combined SSE-Npower company would have a market share of 22.5%, with Germany's E.On trailing on 12%. The other members of the Big Six UK suppliers are Scottish Power - which is owned by Spain's Iberdrola - and France's EDF.
14 NOVEMBER‐DECEMBER 2017 UK POWER NEWS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
