b'28 Partner News Winter 2020CorporateRevolutionary smart substation trial to spearhead Net ZeroSmart electricity substations thatIt will enable local substations to analyse speak to each other using the 5Gmillions of datapoints on how the network network could hold one of the keys tois running, meaning the network can enabling the Net Zero revolution. reconfigure itself to safely enable higherConstellation marks a volumes of electricity to flow. It will alsotransformation inUK Power Networks has been given theprovide a foundation for many other smart green light by regulator Ofgem after asolutions, further benefiting customers. the way electricity successful bid to its Network Innovationnetworks operate.Competition fund to trial a world-firstThis solution pioneered by UK Power innovation project, Constellation. TheNetworks hopes to release 1.4GW of project will see powerful computerscapacity (enough to power more than installed in a series of substations,700,000 homes) and save consumers more optimising utilisation of the substationsthan 750m by 2050 if the project proves to free up capacity and help facilitate thea success and is rolled out nationwide. rise in renewable energy generation. It is also forecast to save more than 19 tonnes of harmful CO2 emissions by 2050.The volume of distributed generation, energy which is no longer connected toIan Cameron, head of customer service the national transmission system but toand innovation at UK Power Networks regional distribution networks, is forecastsaid: We are creating a platform that will to grow from 26GW today to 65GW inenable this smart solution to be deployed 2050. Much of this generation is renewablethroughout the country and enable more in the form of wind and solar farms. renewable energy to connect quickly and efficiently. We already have smart control UK Power Networks is adapting torooms and grid edge devices such as smart increasingly complex power flows byelectric vehicle chargers, and now having becoming smarter so that it can safelysmart substations in the middle pulling release more capacity and enable moreit all together is a logical next step.renewable energy to connect at lower costsaving customers money and helpingFor further information please contact the environment at the same time. the UK Power Networks press office on 0330 159 1712.Constellation marks a transformation in the way electricity networks operate.'