This report provides an overview of my experience in my final quarter of the ES Cornwall Memorial Scholarship. In November 2023, I began my placement at National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) in Warwick, United Kingdom in the Future Network Blueprints team. A year later, I completed my placement at NGET in the Strategic Network Planning Team. The Strategic Network Planning Team is primarily responsible for developing solutions to network constraints which have been prescribed by internal stakeholders or by the National Energy System Operator. The outcomes produced by this team dictates the long-term network plans that NGET works towards. During my tenure in this team, I was responsible for the development of the Ferrybridge area plan which required information from across the business to be considered. This was not limited to understanding the prevailing network requirements, connection and demand outlook, asset condition, substation hosting capacity and specific technical criteria relevant to the Ferrybridge network. Gathering a wide range of network requirements ensures that the best development pathway is achieved.
My final quarter was highlighted by my attendance at the CIGRE 2024 Paris Session. Across the full duration of the conference, I was exposed not only to a wide range of challenges experienced by networks across the world but also the solutions experts are working towards to address these challenges. Throughout the C4 Power Systems Technical Performance topics, performance standards for data centres and large inverter-based loads were a consistent talking point. Operational findings in the Irish power system have emphasised the need for the development of frequency transient and fault ride through requirements for these types of connections.
In September 2024, the National Energy System Operator published updated Future Energy Scenarios. The new publication explores a narrow range of pathways that lead to a net zero 2050. The update outlines three strategic pathways to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, each emphasizing different technological and infrastructural approaches. The Future Energy Pathways explore the balance between consumer engagement, hydrogen development and system electrification and how these factors will impact the UK energy system.
A full version of this report can be found here.