Central Networks is committed to Research and Development initiatives that will provide benefits to our customers, the electricity industry and shareholders. Our approach to R and D is to identify emerging technologies and opportunities that could increase the efficiency of our operations, enhance overall safety and provide a reliable network that delivers a high quality of supply.

Ofgem has introduced the Innovation Funding Incentive (IFI) and Registered Power Zone (RPZ) incentive mechanisms, as part of the Distribution Price Control Review (DPCR) 2005 - 2010. For further information please use the link to the Ofgem website above.

The IFI is intended to provide funding for projects focused on the technical development of distribution networks, up to and including 132kV, to deliver value (i.e. financial, supply quality, environmental, safety) to end consumers.

In contrast to the IFI, RPZs are focused specifically on the connection of generation to distribution systems. This generation could connect at every distribution voltage level bringing new system design and operating challenges. The RPZ mechanism is an extension of the Distributed Generation (DG) Incentive that is also being introduced as part of DPCR.

A portfolio of collaborative R and D projects have been developed to address the challenges of effectively managing the renewal of aging network assets, whilst improving network performance, addressing environmental issues and enabling connections for an increasing capacity of distributed generation. Central Networks successfully applied for the first RPZ in the UK. This project and other Central Networks IFI projects are described here:

Project 1 - Battery Air Conditioning   (PDF, 124KB)

Project 2   - Registered Power Zone (PDF, 94KB)

Links

Central Networks IFI report 2005   (PDF, 268KB)

Central Networks IFI report 2006   (PDF, 506KB)

Central Networks IFI report 2007 (PDF, 520KB)

Paving the Way for Future Networks

Central Networks was proud to take a principal role in the future of sustainable power research when it hosted the 2007 Asset Management & Performance of Energy Systems Technical review confernece in November. Click below for further details  

AMPerES Technical Review Conference (PDF, 111KB).

Contact

For further information please contact Robert Ferris, Research and Development Manager

robert.ferris@central-networks.co.uk