UK – G100 Export & Constraints Management for Complex, HV Connected University Site

GridGEM enables DNO-compliant G100 & Constraints Panel Interface (CIP) solution for Keele University

Overview & Client Problem

Keele University, a large educational establishment based north of Birmingham, has developed a Micro Grid for their campus (called SEND) that they are using to better balance the generation of wind & solar with their demand via energy storage. Installing wind, solar & energy storage meant that they needed to implement a G100 solution as the total generation / storage power were greater than their allowable export limit.

With 2 high voltage (HV) incoming supplies to the site and the need to dynamically communicate with their SEND system, Keele University required a partner to provide an export limitation system would not meet the different challenges.

As such, Argand Solutions were invited to supply a solution, by Keele’s main contractor ESE, that would overcome all of these challenges so that the system would meet the DNO’s stringent rules and dove-tail effectively with their micro-grid control system.

Argand’s Solution

The client site was HV connected with 2 incoming supplies and so Argand provided the client with a DNO-compliant metering solution to capture the real-time import/export at both HV connection points that could be summated to provide a live value for control requirements. This solution overcame many challenges that normal “off the shelf” export limitation solutions are not able to solve. The metering solution provided the input to calculate the dynamic set-point for the solar inverters, wind & energy storage.

Working closely with the client’s main contractor, ESE Ltd, Argand’s GridGEM system provided a dynamic set-point via a fibre-optic network ensure the optimum output was maintained whilst also meeting the DNO’s export limit - ensuring that the client received the maximum possible on-site generation use.

Client Benefits

The overall micro-grid project could not proceed unless this critical G100 problem was solved. Argand’s ability to provide a HV solution across multiple incomers was a critical component. The client also benefitted from Argand’s ability to respond to changing requirements as the project proceeded and to ensure that all of these were met and delivered upon efficiently.

In addition, the client can receive real-time data from the Argand site to continuously monitor the output.