Strategies to Satisfy Our Energy Demands Across The World

The UK government is aware that energy supplies are being stretched at an average daily demand of 35.82GW for the UK Energy Supply. The issue is covered in the media and discussed continuously in government, highlighting its importance. Debates over renewables, global warming, and costs are at the forefront and will remain so, but with a plan in motion, the future looks secure.

The UK plans to exchange energy with other nations using interconnectors to bolster its energy supply and meet demand.

These plans have emerged due to the success of three current interconnectors between the UK and Northern Ireland, France and the Netherlands, carrying 450MW, 2GW, and 1GW, respectively. The pipes are connected to renewable energy sources such as wind, allowing load sharing when wind drops off in one country. This creates flexibility while mitigating the drawbacks of renewables, as they are dependant on nature.

How do they work?

Take BritNed (UK to Netherlands interconnector) as the case study. A purposely made cable, which took two years to build, is laid from one country; it rests on the seabed being monitored by fibres which relay information such as temperature and faults back to the engineers. Converter stations were built in the Isle of Grain in Kent, UK, and the other at Maasvlakt, Netherlands. These transferred the DC power being sent through the cable under the North Sea into AC and passed it on to the AC grid.

What is especially clever is that when there is low wind in the Netherlands, sensors send signals to the UK. Power is then sent from UK to counter the low power being generated. The cable is able to send power both ways so if the UK power levels decrease, the Netherlands can send more.

Future energy interconnectors

As the image above shows, by 2020, the UK will be connected to Ireland, Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and possibly Spain, although this date has not been forecasted. Although it will be a huge investment, the long-term benefits are truly justified. Greater security of supply, greater import and export opportunities, and building a more connected Europe are all valuable features.

Once the developments are complete, the UK will have a strong power supply, securing the nation’s future as our daily consumption rates continue to rise.

Behind the scenes

Before all the red tape and applause for these immense projects, huge planning, construction and safety assessments are required. This is where GreyMatters was involved for the BritNed interconnector.

Due to the recent code of practice changes (enforceable in 2012), which suggest that computer aided simulation is the best method for energy to be modelled; and, as only one of four companies in Europe fully licensed and qualified in the use of CDEGS modelling software, GreyMatters simulated the power dispersion across the cable and converter stations. This industry-revolutionising software allows managers to visualise the rise of earth potential and its dispersion of energy around equipment and ‘stress-test’ how the design will behave when under fault conditions. Armed with this knowledge, proactive decisions can be made and awareness of hazards is greatly increased, hence, improving the safety of the project when in operation.

Commercially, having a scheme studied using CDEGS software provides a technically secure solution and has the added benefit of avoiding expensive ‘over-engineered’ earthing arrangements to cover (what until now have been) unknowns.

GreyMatters provides earthing studies, both below ground and EMI, at the converter stations. Its sister company was also involved in the installation and commissioning of the earthing for the UK connector.

Soil resistivity is a key component of a robust design. It contains vital data for understanding an earth study, but this is a topic for another time…

Possible solutions for our Energy Dilemma…

#1 Solar Roadways – The future is here

Only a few short months ago solar roadways became a plausible, realistic solution to our energy shortage.

Being able to change lanes using LED lights instead of a person physically laying out cones; or sensors informing the driver well in advance of an accident or animal on the road could in fact save lives and resources.

But the main thing is that the road is made of solar panels! Which continuously generates energy which means capital! Eventually everyone will be able to drive electric cars creating only a minimal carbon footprint. Meaning we will save the environment at the same time.

If all the roads in America were to be converted into solar roadways. It would generate three times the amount of energy that it currently uses!

In terms of design, the electric cables will run underground in chambers next to the roads which will eliminate the need for overhead cables. This makes our living environment much safer as there would be no threat of cables or trees falling onto them and causing blackouts.

In 2006, Julie and Scott Brusaw invented this technology and now it is going to be a reality. Both the Netherlands and the US are installing a trial for solar roadways! If the trial is a success then in the long term this could turn into the future that we have only seen in movies…

Pause for thought

There are some questions that are already causing concern for distribution and network operators around the world. For example, managing the huge increase in ‘embedded’ energy generation into pre-existing, overloaded networks that were never designed to flow both ways! And often, the developers may not fully appreciate the risk to their equipment or people in the vicinity from an ‘imported fault’ from the HV line. Would one fault wipe-out the entire road network? Are we relying too much on technology?

I am sure that there are many more aspects to consider. Such as economical impacts but for now a solar roadways trial is underway and we are taking a huge step forward in renewable energy.

#2 Floating Energy Plants

Convention has been tested in Sweden and in the UK as floating wind and solar energy plants have made a splash. This exciting new technology could spark a ripple effect to housing major energy generating facilities out at sea, reducing demand for land.

Swedish Wind Energy Plan

Although singular wind turbines have been erected out at sea in the last five years. Hexicon, a Swedish energy firm, is planning on building the first multi-turbine platform in UK waters.

Not only will this project potentially open new wind energy locations but it is believed that, at current depths, multi-turbine platforms will be cheaper and more productive than the existing fixed facilities.

The exact power to be generated from this plant is not yet confirmed but construction is to start in 2017, to be operational for 2018.

UK’s First Floating Solar Energy Plant

The fully installed solar panels of a floating energy facility lie on the surface of a reservoir in Berkshire. This 800-panel project cost £254,000 and will generate 200KW of energy.

How it works is that the panels are secured on floats which are all attached. The island is then anchored to the banks or to a steel anchor on the lake bed. It does all seem secure but admittedly. This technology is not yet suitable to any rough seas; instead it is best suited to calm. Unused areas of water such as reservoirs.

Could this mean that your garden pond is going to be turned into a floating solar farm. Probably not but theoretically it could happen … Image that!

The Dangers

For the average carp fish that swims happily around the reservoir, whose only danger was the clenches of a fishing line on a Sunday morning. Life could now add another complication. Animal habitats would probably be damaged in the making of these projects if an electrical fault were to happen. Could the water become electrified and kill its inhabitants?

CDEGS earthing software simulation on hydro-generation plants confirms that earth leakage of grounding arrangements into the surrounding water can and does affect certain fish who appear more sensitive to low-level electrical discharges. For earthing (or grounding) design purposes, water is another form of soil. Clearly, the resistivity of salt water is much lower (c. 2 ohm.m) compared with land soil (c. 100 ohm.m), but the water’s role in an earthing design (i.e. earth return path) is the same. Therefore, it can be modelled in the same way.

Similarly, earthing will need to be an essential element of the design process for HV wind farms in the sea.

The prospects of these project are outstanding though and the wave of development which may come from this advancement could pave the way for fascinating, life enhancing facilities. Our own lives may even be made safer by housing our energy-generating facilities away from homes and out at sea.

Revolutionary CDEGS Earthing Software Shifting the Energy Industry

2010 saw changes to the code of practice for earthing above 1kV for developing energy facilities. This became enforceable in 2012 across the EU, where the standard explicitly recognises the role that revolutionary CDEGS Earthing software now plays in compliant electrical earthing design.

Therefore, showing the changes identifies that the best practice is to model energy using specialised CDEGS earthing software.

So, with a rise from 11 to 17 in 2012/13 in the number of fatalities in the UK electricity and services sector, regulators deemed that changes were crucial. Although these figures do not clarify how many are due to insufficient earthing, it is accepted in the industry that this has caused deaths in the past.

3D CDEGS Earthing Software Innovation

Also, a solution to comply with these changes. And ensure a safer site is CDEGS. – Current Distribution, Electromagnetic Fields, Grounding and Soil Structure Analysis. Therefore, this earthing or grounding software creates a 3D model of the area. It mathematically simulates the fault energy return current under the ground and the magnetic/electric fields created. Particularly useful when studying overground systems. Also, for modelling above-ground earthing systems using CDEGS Software. Is an under-utilised benefit of the software. Such as for GIS substations, lightning attachment studies and interference. So, this innovative use of the software could open a door into a whole new field of problem-solving. For asset owner/managers. Also scheme project leaders alike.

However, if you’ve never seen the software in action. Not all CDEGS are equal. – CDEGS builds a 3D virtual version of the system under study. And the qualified researcher can test various scenarios (faults or attachments). As a result, his approach creates an easy-to-understand visual map of the various outcomes. These maps can be used to assess how the earthing system performs. As well as how a human might be affected when interacting with the system (safety assessments).

As a result, managers are empowered with knowledge and awareness of the risks on their site. And, this invaluable understanding saves companies vast amounts of money and potentially save lives.

This visual map shows the voltage dispersion if a fault were to occur. As distance increases, voltage decreases as illustrated by the colour scheme.

Or perhaps our Understanding Rise of Earth Potential Video below will explain a little better.

Specialist CDEGs Skills

So, using the CDEGS earthing software is a complex task, one that requires a high level of competence and qualification. And, GreyMatters is amongst the elite. Being only one of four companies in Europe fully licensed and qualified in the use of this revolutionary CDEGS Software.

Examples of projects using CDEGS Earthing Software: data-centres, inter-connectors, wind turbines, lightning attachments to rail infrastructure, solar parks, and off-shore ships. Together with the usual suspects, e.g. substations and power stations. So, knowing and understanding the dangers of energy is vital. Therefore, CDEGS Software is essential to ensure that people in proximity to equipment and the facility itself, are safe.

Lack of awareness of these recent codes of practice changes means companies can be carrying significant business risk.

So, don’t take the risk with your business. GreyMatters will ensure that you remain fully compliant and have a better knowledge of the risks associated with your facility.

Regular readers of this blog will know GreyMatters have championed CDEGS for many years. But now there is a viable and attractive alternative to CDEGS. I explain “Why I chose this alternative” in this article. And compare several past projects, done with CDEGS and the alternative – in this article.

Strategies to Satisfy Our Energy Demands