How National Grid UK is Preparing Today for the Grid of Tomorrow

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National Grid UK, the transmission system operator for nearly 20 million people in the United Kingdom, is deploying an advanced, upgradable grid measurement system to provide better operational data for the condition of the UK grid. Like many energy providers, National Grid UK is facing the challenges that come with a rapidly changing grid; thus, the company is focused on developing a flexible solution that can be upgraded with new software as the measurement needs of the grid and amount of data available evolve.

Watch this 2 minute video to hear power systems engineers at National Grid UK explain how.

The Challenge

The modern grid comes with new engineering challenges. In the United Kingdom, as renewable energy resources are being used to supplement fossil fuel production, power quality issues are surfacing. Combine this with the rapidly increasing demand for energy and the decommissioning of fossil fuel plants, and grid operators are finding that traditional measurement systems do not offer adequate coverage to handle these new challenges and manage the new risks the industry faces.

The Solution

Knowing it could not fix what it could not measure, National Grid UK adopted a platform, based on the CompactRIO system, that can provide more measurements and also adapt with the evolving grid for generations to come. This interconnected network includes 136 systems, with 110 permanently installed in substations throughout England and Wales and 26 portable units that provide on-the-go spot coverage as needed. The software application running on both versions is identical, which minimizes the impact on system integration, training, and support.

For additional details, download the attached case study document.