Dr.Chenghong Gu from University of Bath, UK presented a lecture entitled Understand the Conditions of Low Voltage Distribution Networks to CEE students and faculties yesterday on Dec 25.
Dr Gu introduced first in the presentation that in order to assess the typical LV networks and its low carbon technologies accommodation capability, Western Power Distribution (WPD) in the UK had initiated one of the Low-Carbon Network (LCN) Projects - Low Voltage Network Templates through funding from the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). In the project, WPD installed monitors along LV networks at selected LV distribution substations and feeders in South Wales, spanning from Newport to Swansea. These monitors would collect real-time network data, which would be used to develop LV network templates that might be applicable for the entire UK network using statistical approaches. The monitoring would provide detailed information about variable data of the monitored LV substations, PVs and LV feeders. This information would better inform the planning and operation of a smarter network and identify areas where low carbon devices could be connected without triggering large-scale reinforcement. One main aim of the project was to provide visibility of LV network. Additionally, the voltage headroom availability and the stresses brought by low carbon technologies, such as PV installations could be checked and identified.
According to Gr Gu, the overall aim of this project was to develop a number of common LV substation templates and classify each substation in other areas in the UK to a template with certain statistical confidence. The research would interrogate the extensive data using statistical approaches with an aim to inform critical conditions in networks in relation to the low carbon technologies, allowing operators to have targeted interventions as required maintaining their quality of supply. Based on the real-time metered data, the first step of the project was to classify and develop basic load clusters to represent customer classes and seasonal variations. One important target of the project was to understand the voltage distribution of both LV feeders and substations were essential part of this project. This updated understanding would more accurately visualize the demand profiles of different substations, which helped to understand how networks could accommodate different LCTs penetration levels, Dr Gu said.
Dr Gu was born in Anhui province, China. He received his Bachelor degree and Master degree in electrical engineering from Shanghai University of Electric Power and Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China, in 2003 and 2007 respectively. In 2010, he obtained his PhD from University of Bath, U.K. Now, he is working as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Dept. of Electronic & Electrical Eng., University of Bath. His major research is in the area of power system planning, economics and smart grid.
