Grid connection & energy basics

1. Fully Funded Workshop on
Energy and Grid Connection Basics
Electricity Northwest, Salford, 26th June 2013
Welcome and Introduction
Ross Fielding, Supply Chain Development Officer
The Wind-Tech Project
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2. Programme
9.00
Introduction
Ross Fielding, Wind-Tech Project, UCLan
9.15
9.30
10.45
11.00
General Introduction to Grid Connection
Part 1: Understanding Energy and Power
Morning Refreshments
Part 2: The Electricity Supply System
Geoff Owen, Grid Connections
12.30
1.30
Lunch
Part 3: Grid Connection from the perspective of the DNO
Mike Taylor, Electricity Northwest
1.45
3.00
3.15
Part 4: How the Grid works, connection tour and site survey tips
Afternoon refreshments
Part 5: Connection Requirements and Applications
Geoff Owen, Grid Connections
Question and Answer session
Geoff Owen, Ross Fielding
Close
4.30
5.00
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3. The Wind-Tech project
• Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
to support businesses interested in investing in a small wind
turbine, or supplying into the small wind turbine industry;
• Free to Northwest SMEs;
• Delivery team:
• Dr. George Hall, Project Manager
• Ross Fielding, Supply Chain Development Officer
• Dr. Matt Stables, Project Engineer
• David Ainsworth, Project Officer
• Alex Mayes, Research Assistant
• Dr. Chris Hill, Research Associate
• Academic staff from the School of Computing, Engineering
and Physical Science.
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4. Wind-Tech: Support available
Demand assistance
Led by Dr. Matt Stables
• Feasibility studies,
wind & site assessment;
• Turbine selection;
• Planning;
• Radar issues;
• Installation;
• Performance
Supply Chain Development
Led by Ross Fielding
• Design;
• Manufacturing;
• Market analysis;
• Project dynamometer;
turbine performance.
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5. Today’s workshop
• Recognised that a barrier to small wind turbine installation (and
other renewables) is knowledge about grid connection and cost;
• Today will serve as an introduction to energy and grid connection
basics;
• To be followed by a further FREE workshop covering Engineering
recommendations in more detail;
• Follow-on 1-to-1 support also available for specific projects,
including grid connection feasibility and cost studies;
• Support is FREE, but our funders require paperwork to be
completed to enable this; registration form (today), confirmation
of assistance, and recording any benefits of the assistance.
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6. Today’s workshop
Please note:
The information provided today is done so in an advisory capacity
only. The supplier shall not incur any liability for any action or
omission arising out of any reliance being placed on this information
by any organisation or other person. Any organisation or person in
receipt of this information should take their own legal, financial and
other relevant professional advice when considering what action (if
any) to take in respect of any grid connection, renewable strategy,
initiative, proposal, or other involvement with any renewable
technology, before placing any reliance on anything contained
herein.
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7. Fully Funded Workshop on
Energy and Grid Connection Basics
Geoff Owen,
Grid Connections
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8. Workshop Contents
Part 1: Understanding energy and power
Part 2: The Electricity supply system
Part 3: Grid Connection from the perspective of the DNO
Part 4: Overview of how the grid works, connection tour and site
survey tips
Part 5: Connection requirements and applications
Questions and answers
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9. Workshop Objectives
• Improve your technical knowledge of
electrical energy and electrical supplies
• Appreciation of the electrical grid network
works
• Better understanding of terminology
• To fill knowledge gaps
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10. My aim for today
• Not to make you technical experts
• To present new or old ideas in an interesting
enjoyable way
• An interactive session with demonstrations –
seeing helps to reinforce understanding
• Develop the ability to explain and communicate
in my work environment
• Give you confidence and encouragement
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11. Part 1
Understanding
Energy and power
• Looking at the basics
• Demonstration
• Application
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12. Electricity
 Fuel of the future
 Security of supply
 Dependency & complacency
 Cost
 Danger
 Blackouts
 What does the future look like
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13. The increasing focus on energy and usage
drivers for change and economic efficiency
Strategic drivers
• Energy and carbon reduction policy and
legislation
• Energy security
• Energy cost
Feed-in-Tariffs
• The largest financial incentive scheme
• Aimed at encouraging the development of
renewable energy
• Guaranteed return for a 20-25 year period
RHI and the Green Deal
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14. Rising energy costs
increasing energy awareness
• 9 million in fuel poverty by 2016
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15. What is energy ?
Electricity fuel of the future
Essential to modern day life
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16. Electrical Energy Explained
Overview of terminology
• Basic power terminology
• Voltage
• Current
• Resistance
• Power measurement: watts, kilowatts, mega
watts (but also KVA or MVA)
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17. The danger of electricity ?
• Pressure – measured in volts
• Electrical contact with AC can stop your heart
• Electrical fatalities every year in industry and
the home environment
• Electrical pressure – we use the term it is LIVE
• No pressure we use the term is – Dead
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18. Electricity - The Flow of Electrons
• Electricity is essentially the flow of electrons through
a conductor.
• In metals, electrons are able to pass along a metal
conductor if a force is applied to make them move.
• In glass or insulators, the electrons are fixed and
unable to move.
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19. To move electricity requires
conductors and insulators
Transmission Conductors
Very low resistance
Transmission Insulators
Very high resistance
Transmission of electricity
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20. Similar to Water?
 Voltage can be likened to water pressure (the higher the pressure, the
faster the water flows through the pipe - the higher the voltage, the
greater the flow of electricity through a conductor).
 Current can be likened to the rate at which the water flows through
the pipe.
 Resistance can be likened to the friction that the water experiences as
it flows through the pipe.
 Power is the rate at which energy is supplied - think of water striking a
wheel. You could get the same effect from a small flow (current) at
high pressure (voltage) or from a large flow at low pressure.
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21. Water Pipe Analogy
Electrical pressure greatest
at the sending end (the substation)
Flow of water through a pipe
Water main
Water pressure
greater at the
sending end
Reduced water pressure
due to, customers load ,
bends and distance
Reminder - what is electrical pressure
Voltage
Reduced electrical pressure
Customer supply
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22. Demonstration
• Looking at the basic concepts , voltage,
current and power for two different
appliances
• Heater
1200 watts (1.2 kW)
• Simple power calculation
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23. Watt is power
Easy mathematical relationship
WATT- The power unit, defined as one joule per second , measures the rate of energy
conversion or transfer.
Power is measure in watts
Thanks to
Power
divide
James Watt
1736-1819
Voltage
Amps
multiply
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24. James Watt
• Calculated the comparison between a steam
train and a working horse 1 Hp = 746 watts
Capacity of a car engine often rated in HP
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25. Ohm’s Law
 Certain materials such as metals, have a linearly proportional
relationship between voltage, current and resistance.
 These materials are described as Ohmic, and the relationship can be
described by Ohm’s Law:
Thanks to
 V=IxR
Georg Simon
Ohm 1826
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26. Getting the Measure of Electricity
• The main parameters used in measuring electricity are as follows:
Voltage (V)
SI Unit: Volt, V
The pressure
Current (I)
SI Unit: Amp, A
The moving energy
Resistance (R)
SI Unit: Ohm, 
Opposition
Power (P)
SI Unit Watt, W
Work done
• Voltage is the potential difference between two points in a circuit
• Current is the rate of flow of electrons through a conductor
• Resistance is the tendency of a material to resist the passage of an electric
current and to convert electrical energy into heat
• Power is the rate at which energy is expended or work is done
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27. Review
• We have looked at the essential basics of
energy and power
• We have built a foundation reference in the
demonstration
• Practical application of results
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28. Questions? How big is this valley?
How big is- my electrical supply- a Substation- 16 amps?
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29. How big is 16 amps ?
What happens to the electricity that I generate ?
•
•
•
•
•
•
kettle
9 amps
Toaster
8 amps
Iron
4 amps
Hoover
5 amps
8 kW shower
34 amps
The generated electricity that is used in your property reduces the intake from the
grid. Any surplus is exported to the grid and your electricity supplier will pay you
for it.
16 amps
6 amps to grid
10 amps
House demand
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30. MCS approved F.I.T Schematic update
G83 control equipment
Generator
10 kW PV panels
10 kW Wind
Power flow
F.I.T Payment
Per kWh
GENERATION
F.I.T METER
13.5 p
21.65 p
21.65 p
Customer installation
( power consumption)
10 kW Hydro
DNO INCOMING
SUPPLY &
ENERGY METER
Energy supplier
Charge 12 p/ kWh
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31. Practical Application of Results
This is the G83 generator connection
document
Published by the Electrical Network
Association
It is the engineering recommendation for
small generation that all MCS installers
must comply with
G83 generation is limited to 16 amps at
230/400 declared voltage
Our demonstration ( rule of thumb )
1 kW = approximately 4 amps
GOLDEN RULE 16 AMPS
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32. Break time
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33. After Break Thought
You are
Important
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34. Part 2
The Electricity Supply System
• Simply terminology
• Single phase and three phase supply
• Simple calculations
• kW / MW /kVA/ kVAr / power factor
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35. Power Engineering Terminology
AC Voltage:
Statutory voltage
230/400 volts
LV low voltage:
240 volts ( your house )
LV low voltage:
240/415 volts
HV high voltage supplies:
6,600 volts 6.6KV
11,000 volts 11 KV
EHV
Extra high voltages
Just for reference DC Voltage:
Battery volts:
1.5 volts
Car battery voltage:
12 volts
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36. Power Engineering Terminology
Power measurement :
• Power is the rate of consuming or generating energy
• Measured in kW (kilowatts)
• 1000 watts = 1 kW or (1 KVA) remember our
demonstration
• 1,000 kW = 1 MW (megawatt) or (1 MVA)
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37. Power Engineering Terminology
Energy consumption:
• Energy is measured over a period of time and usually
given in kWh (kilowatt-hours)
• 1 “unit” of electricity is 1 kWh
• We pay approx 10-12p per unit
• 1,000 kWh = 1 MWh (megawatt-hour)
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38. Direct / Alternating Current
 Direct current (DC) systems have a steady voltage/current over
time.
 Alternating current (AC) systems have a sinusoidal voltage/current
profile over time.
 The electricity network in the UK generates and supplies power
using AC
 This is because its voltage can be easily changed up or down using
transformers.
 Appliances, such as televisions and DVD players, convert the AC
supply into a reduced voltage DC supply which is used by electronic
circuits.
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39. Practical Demonstration
•
•
•
•
Seeing the transformer in action
No moving parts
Changes the voltage
Can be designed to increase or reduce the
voltage
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40. The Secret of the UK Grid
Transformers Change the AC
• Transformers are very simple devices.
• The alternating current is fed through a primary coil
of wire, which produces an alternating magnetic
field in the ring-shaped core of soft iron.
• This creates a voltage in a second coil, from which
the output current can be drawn.
• If the secondary coil has more turns than the
primary, the output voltage is higher than the input
voltage and is called a step up transformer.
• A step down transformer has more turns in the
primary coil than in the secondary coil.
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41. What is Single Phase ?
• 1 live conductor and 1 neutral
• Alternating current ( AC ) systems have a sinusoidal
voltage/current profile over time
• The domestic supply
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42. What is Three Phase?
Three live conductors and one neutral
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43. How we Generate Three Phase?
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44. Why Three Phase
• Most cost effective way to move energy
• 30 % of all electricity that is used is by
electrical motors
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45. Single and Three Phase Systems
 Certain electrical devices (e.g. large motors) work more
efficiently when there are multiple AC supplies which
peak at different times.
 Therefore the UK distribution network is three phase,
generated at a frequency of 50Hz (cycles per second).
 Each phase peaks every 1/50th of a second and is given
different colours to distinguish them.
 Domestic properties are supplied at single phase and are
balanced across the three phase cable down the street.
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46. Easy Single Phase Calculation
FORMULA
TRIANGLE
Power = volts x amps
POWER
divide
Volts = power
amps
VOLTS
AMPS
Amps = power
volts
multiply
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47. Calculating Single Phase Line Current for a
Single Phase Project
• PV array is rated at 3.68 kWp (3,680 watts)
• What is the maximum current output in amps if the
voltage is:
• 230 volts
• Formula: Amps = power kW / voltage
• Answer:
• For 230 volts = 16 amps
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48. Introduction to kW kVA kVar and power factor
Hole in my bucket
Full kVA
hole
kW
Water
loss
20% loss
kVar
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49. Lunch
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50. After lunch focus
Project failure
•Installed with planning consent
but no grid connection
• 10 kW single phase turbine
( approx 40 amps)
• On installation of the turbine the
connection application was
submitted to the DNO
• The DNO connection cost option
no 1 was £ 41,000
•Option no 2 was no cost but to
limit the export to 16 amps
•Option no 3 was a off grid project
supplying under floor or water
heating
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51. Part 3
Grid connection from the
perspective of the DNO
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52. Part 4
How the grid works, connection tour
and site survey tips
• Overview of how the grid works
• Grid connection tour
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53. The UK Electricity Grid
Understanding electrical grids
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54. History of the Electricity Grid
• The Electricity Board developed from 1920 to
1990
Cash asset rich company with
investment strategy.
The biggest supply engine in
the UK.
• Privatisation 1990 move to the free market
Happy shareholders and investors.
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55. How it Works
Free market overseen by Ofgem (the government
regulator)
The grid consists of five parts:
•
•
•
•
•
Power Station Generators
The National Grid ( NGT)
Distribution Network Operators (DNO )
Energy supply companies
Consumers
Consumers
Generators
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56. Electricity Grid Layout
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57. Electrical Plant and Apparatus
 Electricity is generated at power stations which basically work
like a motor in reverse - kinetic energy is converted into
electrical energy by the generator.
 Overhead lines and underground cables are used to covey the
electricity from one place to another - larger overhead line
constructions will be supported by metal pylons and smaller
ones on wooden poles.
 Substations are used to step the voltage of the electricity up
or down - they contain transformers and switches to open or
close the circuit.
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58. UK Power Stations
•
•
•
•
Coal
Gas
Nuclear
Renewables
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59. Electricity Transmission
• The National Grid Company (NGC) operates a network
of 275kV and 400kV transmission lines across the
country.
• The majority of these are overhead conductors
supported by huge pylons.
• Some circuits may be underground, especially through
urban areas.
• Supergrid substations owned and operated by the NGC
transform the voltage down from 275kV and 400kV to
132kV ready for distribution at a more localised level.
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60. At bulk supply points, DNOs receive energy at
132,000 volts
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61. Very Large Grid Transformers
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62. Use the ENA site to access the
correct DNO information
www.energynetworks.org/info/faqs/electricity-distribution-map.html
• Electricity North West
• Northern Ireland Electricity
•
•
•
•
•
Northern Power grid
Scottish Power (SP Energy Networks)
SSE Power Distribution
UK Power Networks
Western Power Distribution
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63. Electricity Northwest Network Map
58,000 km of cables
96 bulk supply points
363 primary sub stations
33,000 transformer points
2.3 million customers
Grid system voltages
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64. All Electrical Networks
Designs and operation of grid systems are
covered by electricity at work regulations
•
•
•
•
•
Grid code
DNO’s licence conditions
ENA engineering documents
EQSR
Buildings 17 edition of the IEE Wiring regulations
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65. Grid Connection Picture Tour
• Help you to appreciate that customers have
different load requirements with different
sizes of connection.
• To help you to identify equipment on site.
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66. Small Grid Supplies
Domestic single phase
Small commercial three phase
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67. Reminder!
Single phase
Three phase
1 live conductor and 1 neutral
3 live conductors and 1 neutral
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68. Single Phase Supply: 240 volts
Domestic or Small Commercial
meter
• Maximum rated capacity
18 kW ( approx 80 amps
per phase )
• MCS generator project
connectivity is 3.68 kW
80 amp Grid
fuse
Single phase – one live
conductor
Incoming
Grid Cable
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69. Domestic Metering
• There are two main types of metering used in domestic situations :
• Single rate
• Dual rate
• Single rate is the most common in which there is usually some form of
gas or non-electric heating in the property.
• Dual rate is used where the property is electrically heated and a
cheaper rate of electricity is applicable at certain times of the day.
• All meters used are “whole current” which means the current flowing
through the meter does not have to be transformed down to a more
manageable value in order to measure it.
• Current transformer (CT) metering is used in larger supplies above
72kVA.
• Future developments will include smart meters.
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70. Domestic Supplies
• All the equipment up to and including the electricity meter is owned and
maintained by the local DNO and the meter operator.
• Beyond the meter, the rest of the installation is the responsibility of the
homeowner.
• There is a consumer unit which protects all the wiring in your home.
• Without fuses or a mini circuit breaker (MCB’s), the wires may overheat if
a fault develops, causing a fire risk.
• You may also have an earth leakage circuit breaker, also called a residual
current device (RCD).
• This cuts off the electricity supply, if a small current (usually 30mA) flows
through the earth wire.
• The main fuse protects the supply system from any risk of overload.
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71. Three Phase Supply: 240/415 volts
Small Commercial
Three phase –
three live conductors
Cables to
meter
3 x 80 amp
fuses
Earth
Incoming
grid cable
• Maximum rated capacity 60 KVA ( approx 80 amps per phase )
• MCS generation project connectivity is 11kW
• Exceeding 11kW will require connection approval from the DNO
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72. Local Substation
How big is 1 MW ( 1000kW)
transformer
This substation can supply 500 houses with gas central heating
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73. Opening the Local Substation Door
(at low voltage) Supply to your House
Single phase connection
arrangements
Small single
phase cable to
house 240 v
Cable joint
in highway
240/415 volts
11,000 volts
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74. Single Phase Supply
(farms and rural connections)
80 amp
grid fuse
Incoming
grid cable
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75. Larger Supplies from 60kVA up to 300kVA
Larger generator projects will require permission from the DNO to
connect
Power meter
Large DNO
supply panel
Customer’s LV supply
switch gear
Modern supply
arrangements
DNO supply
fuses
DNO supply cable
sized to customer’s
load requirements
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76. Old Existing Supply Arrangements
Larger generator projects will require permission from the DNO to connect
Power meter
Customer’s LV
cables in steel
tube to switch
panel
DNO supply
fuses
DNO supply cable
sized to customer’s
load requirements
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77. Over 300kVA up to 1000kVA
A Low Voltage Connection
Larger generator projects will require permission from the DNO to connect
Customer supply
Meter
DNO substation
Large power supply connection
Other LV supplies
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78. Customer’s Dedicated HV Connection
Larger generator projects will require permission from the DNO to connect
HV
metering
unit
11kV customer HV cable
HV
switchgear
11kV grid supply cables
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79. Modern Dedicated HV Customer Supply
New DNO substation £ 45,000
Larger generator projects will require
permission from the DNO to connect
New HV
cables to
customers
circuit
breaker and
G59 control
equipment
New HV cables to grid
connection point
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80. Rural Overhead LV 240/415 Volt Supplies
Bare exposed live cables
Insulated twisted cables
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81. Connections in Rural Areas
Site Surveying
200 KVA area Grid supply
No three phase grid supply
Dedicated customer three phase
supply
Grid connection and cost will depend on existing supply arrangements.
New overhead line supply and connection may add significant costs to the project.
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82. 11kV and 33 kV Grid
33,000 volt lines
have larger
insulators and
no pole mounted
transformers
11,000 volt lines
Will have pole mounted
transformers supplying
the local LV grid
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83. Site Survey Tips
Bring back
• Customer electricity bills, all pages with the
MPAN no.
• Site photographs
• Name and number of local substation
• Details of any existing generation
• Marked plan showing grid supply and
substation location
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84. Site Survey Tips
The Power Source - DNO Substation
S/S name and number on plate
Main distribution sub station
1000kVA larger stronger grid supplies
Rural substation 50 kVA
remote weaker grid supplies
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85. Break time
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86. Part 5
• Connection requirements and applications
• The job of the inverter
• Connecting generators to the customers’
supply and grid
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87. Compliance Documents
• UK National Standards
• G83 and G59 generation engineering documents
60 pages
123 pages
189 pages
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88. Generation Compliance Picture Guide
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89. Connecting to the Grid
G83 Stage 1 – Connect and Notify
If the entire installation is 3.68kW or < 16 amps per
phase:
•You need to inform the DNO within 28 days, using the
fully completed appendix 3 form
•You must include the MPAN
•You must use a MCS registered installer
•Charge: Nil Charge
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90. Renewable Energy: Type of application
• G83 stage 1 single application:
• Legal obligation for installers to notify the DNO within 28 days of
commissioning.
• G83 stage 2 multiple applications
• Stage 2 application form must be completed with associated test
sheets to be forwarded to the DNO.
• The DNO will consider the application and advise of any work, cost
and associated timescales.
• There may be a charge to evaluate larger projects.
• G59 larger applications
• Generally, for generators in excess of 16 amps per phase
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91. What is G59 Generation
• G59 is an industry standard for generators >16 amps per
phase.
• Where necessary, G59 applications must be submitted for
DNO system studies and associated network reinforcements,
prior to connection.
• Charges: Charges will apply for work if required.
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92. How to Make Successful
Applications to the DNO
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Having the correct information from the site survey
The right project design
Supply the correct information to the DNO
Make the right application for budget or firm quote
Remember:
Keep a copy of information you send to the DNO
Always request a project number and contact details
from the DNO
• Always look to build a relationship with the DNO
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93. The Inverter
• All PV projects and some small wind turbines have
inverters
• Changes generated DC to the same AC of the grid
• Automatically connects to the grid
• Automatically protects
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94. Connecting Generators to the Grid
• Rotating generators require special equipment
to connect to the grid
• Synchronous operation , A SWITCH that closes
at the right time, like the clutch in your car
• Protection equipment that will prevent
damage to the grid supply or to the generator
• All generators over 16 amps per phase must
have permission to connect to the grid
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95. Automatic Relay and Contactor
Synchronous Operation
Grid
Generator
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96. Generator Connection Difficulties
Remember the water pipe analogy
Electrical pressure greatest
at the sending end (the substation)
Force water back into the main
Flow of water through a pipe
Water main
Water pressure
greater at the
sending end
Customer
Effect the supplying water pressure
Reminder - what is electrical pressure
Reduced water pressure
due to, customers load ,
bends and distance
supply
Reduced electrical pressure
Effect the supplying Electrical pressure
Voltage
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97. Why Generator Connections Require Permission
to Connect into a Customers Installation
Generator pressure
Grid Pressure
What is pressure ?
Voltage
The DNO has to guarantee the customer supply voltage
• Customer submits a competent application request to the DNO
• DNO engineer completes a network study
• DNO issues to customer conditions for connection
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98. No 1 Life Saving Rule
• Hanging cables
• Exposed cables
• Bare conductors
• Electrical fittings
All must be assumed to be LIVE (have electrical
pressure )
A competent person must be the one to confirm it is
dead (have no electrical pressure )
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99. No 2 Life Saving Rule
Electrical equipment outside the house must
have special safety protection
A socket or potable device at the source of
supply that has :
• A 30 milli amp ( 0.03 amp) R.C.D residual
current device that will protect you from
electrical shocks
• To be tested prior to use
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100. Level 2 Advanced Workshop:
UCLan, Preston, 4th July or
Sci-Tech Daresbury, 16th July 2013
• Free to NW SME’s, registered at today’s event.
• Limited places, sign-up today.
Overview of grid networks and connections for larger projects
Generator applications; budgetary or firm? with examples
The rural grid with technical information
Variation in grid voltage and the reason for DNO network studies
Filling in the ENA application form
How to submit good applications to the DNO
Real Case studies to bring clarity to the workshop learning
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101. Questions?
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102. Thank-you
Geoff Owen
T: 07921 589144
E: jeoffrey.owen@ntlworld.com
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