LONDON, March 31, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --



An innovative modelling tool developed by power engineering specialist EA Technology has predicted that UK networks and consumers could save up to £10billion in the period up to 2050 by deploying smart grids.

The Transform Model - recognised by UK industry bodies such as Ofgem and the Energy Networks Association as the world's leading techno-economic modelling tool for electricity networks - determines the best investments for network operators in the UK to ensure that the grid can sufficiently meet future network demands.

Mark Sprawson, Head of Advanced Network Solutions at EA Technology, said: "The figure of £10billion was worked out by examining the costs of performing network upgrades in a 'conventional way' and comparing them using smart technologies that are within the Transform Model.

"After populating the model with published government scenarios for how the country will achieve the 2050 carbon reduction targets, we found that the average saving of the UK going smart was £10billion.

"As an example, if every UK network operator used the smart technology recommended by the Transform Model, Britain would avoid laying 28,000km of cable by 2030 - the equivalent of laying a cable from the UK to Australia and back again."

The outputs of the Transform Model will result in the UK saving of c£200m in network expenditure over the period 2015-2023.

Mark said: "If the network operators had not used the Transform Model, the cost for this period would have been £1.2billion, rather than the £1bn planned expenditure given. This is a saving of an extra £200m the networks would have needed from Ofgem and, by extension, consumers."

The model has been designed to determine the level of electrical network investment required to support the potential forecast of low carbon technologies such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar panels.

Mark said: "The Transform Model is a parametric representation of an electricity network in Great Britain, and is built on data derived from a number of sources. These include distribution networks, local authorities, central government and a range of other sources, allowing the model to understand the current demands on the electricity grid.

"The model then overlays onto this network the anticipated future demands that will come from various low carbon technologies, considering both 'conventional solutions' and 'smart solutions'. These are modelled side by side, and the best value options are selected.

"This process can be replicated world wide: it's a really exciting tool and the scope for it to be rolled out globally is huge."

The model is continually updated with new data sets and enhancements to ensure that only the latest information is used and the results are always valid.

Dave A Roberts, Future Networks Director at EA Technology, said: "The Transform Model is positioning itself as a vital tool for easing Britain into its low-carbon future, and we believe it has the potential to be rolled out on a global scale.

"Low carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and photo-voltaic generation, will alter the way in which we consume and produce energy. The results that are coming through are tremendously exciting, and paint a really positive picture of the benefit Britain will reap by adopting low carbon technologies and smart solutions."

To find out more about the Transform Model, please visit: http://www.eatechnology.com/key-projects/transform.

About EA Technology 

EA Technology is a global independent provider of end-to-end power engineering solutions, supporting customers in managing and operating electrical assets more efficiently, reliably and safely at lower cost.

Established as the UK Electricity Industry's Research Centre in the 1960s and now employee-owned, EA Technology is recognised as a world-leading expert in its field, working collaboratively with partners across the energy, utilities, infrastructure and associated sectors.

With headquarters in the North West of England, EA Technology provides innovative instruments, skills training, technical services and expert consultancy, designed to help customers maximise existing asset performance, enhancing power engineering at all stages of the asset lifecycle, and developing ground-breaking, sustainable solutions for the energy networks of tomorrow.

For more information, visit http://www.eatechnology.com

and developing ground-breaking, sustainable solutions for the energy networks of tomorrow.

EA Technology: Empowering Together - innovate, solve and inspire.

For more information, visit http://www.eatechnology.com

SOURCE EA Technology