b'20 Partner News Summer 2022EnterpriseTaking control Automation of grid management is Controlling voltages has always been anincreasingly deploying artificial intelligence, issue for grids and is becoming ever moremachine learning and cloud computing, not acute as generation and demand areleast in the field of EV charging.Fundamentals entered the changing rapidly. It is a climate change issuevoltage control field in 1985, because poorly controlled voltage levelsWith around 11 million plug-in EVs expected cause excessive power consumption andin the UK by 2030, grid operators needwhen co-founders Nick Hiscockdamage machinery.to have the ability to monitor and predictand Chris Goodfellow solved EV charging and respond to rapid spikes Grids designed around large, centralisedin demand. We have developed a solutionthe problem of balancing two power stations also need to be adaptedthat precisely identifies where, when andtransformers in parallel, nowto make it easy to connect all sorts ofat what power levels EVs are plugged in atstandard in every high-voltage renewable generation and energy storagereal timewith the system automatically systems to them. adjusting voltages on the grid. It also usessubstation.an artificial intelligence algorithm to learn Fundamentals entered the voltage controlabout customer behaviour, becoming more field in 1985, when co-founders Nick Hiscockintelligent in its ability to respond with each and Chris Goodfellow solved the problem ofmeasurement.balancing two transformers in parallel, now standard in every high-voltage substation. Join the revolutionThe good news is that we do not need to Working in a garage, they applied therebuild the existing grid entirely to transition fundamental principles of engineering toto clean electricity and achieve net zero generate a solutionhence the name of ourcarboneven if we could afford it. Yes, company. The SuperTAPP unit they created iswe will need new infrastructure in some now used widely across the industry and haspartsthe challenge is maintaining and spawned a continuously expanding range ofupdating what we already have with smarter innovations within Automatic Voltage Controlcommunications and controls to make it (AVC). work betterrevolutionary innovation plus intelligent investment.The basic need to control voltages has remained unchanged since Nick and ChrissSo, we need the best of the best to join us breakthrough 37 years ago. What hasin AI, IT, electronic, electrical and mechanical changed is the numerous factors whichengineering to deliver the innovations which cause voltages to fluctuate, such as varyingwill change the world for the better. Its inputs from solar and wind generation, the most exciting time to be part of the increased demand from electric vehicle (EV)electricity industry since the days of Thomas charging points and strains on rural grids. Edison and Nicola Tesla. Oh, andDr Sebastian de Ferranti, of course.Cracking digital commsThe next problem is how to enable theIf youre interested in a career in power millions of pieces of equipment that makesystems with a willingness to develop and a up the grid to communicate with eachdesire to take on new challenges with a yes other, so they can be managed morewe can attitude, we would like to talk with efficiently, adapt to change and work withyou. minimum carbon impact. The scale of the challenge is immense, with a combinationPlease visit fundamentalsltd.co.uk/careers of older machinery and modern digitalor contact us atequipment, built with multiple protocols andcareers@fundamentalsltd.co.ukcommunications systems if any. These all need to be integrated into the Internet of Things (IoT).One of the answers we have developed is the CUBE Controller SGC 30, a black box digital signal translator for grids. Attach it to virtually any type of grid equipment and translate its language into a universally understandable form. Now machinery which was once standalone can be integrated with smart grids.'