Project Summary
Our project addresses the critical challenges from the electrification of plant machinery in the construction industry. The Discovery Phase found the non-road mobile machinery sector alone is projected to increase NGED's electricity demand by 1.5 to 2.0 TWh in 2050, powered via temporary grid connections on construction sites. The existing manual process of requesting temporary connections will not meet the evolving needs of an electrified construction sector, with significantly increased and more complex temporary connections.
To solve this, a self-service tool for temporary connections, focusing on flexible and interruptible connections, is needed. Construction schemes are ideal for these connections having a variable but predictable load across the day and year, and where agility is preferable to reinforcement related delays. This tool will extend existing self-service connection tools, providing improved functionality with a consistent user experience.
Innovation Justification
The self-service temporary connection tool is crucial as it supports the construction sector's shift towards decarbonisation by managing connections more efficiently and sustainably.
Existing self-service tools across Great Britain are limited to managing fixed, permanent connections, which the Discovery Phase shows will be insufficient for the complex, temporary needs of modern construction sites. These sites require large temporary connections and are strong candidates for flexible and interruptible connections due to predictable yet varied load profiles and the transient nature of their operations. Our tool uniquely fills this gap, providing an automated solution that facilitates temporary connections with an option for flexibility and interruptible connections ---a significant advancement over the current state of the art.
The Discovery Phase provided critical insights into the deficiencies of current practices. We learned the importance of stakeholder engagement and iterative development to align technical solutions with practical field requirements. This has shaped our Alpha Phase, ensuring the tool is designed with direct input from our project partners Kier, and our industry stakeholders including Highways Authority and Utilities Committee, Keltbray, HS2 and National Highways, who have highlighted the necessity for this innovation.
The project's scale and design are tailored to meet SIF objectives by demonstrating significant innovation beyond incremental improvements. The tool assesses current capacity across the duration of the works and across half-hourly periods, offering users multiple, tailored connection options.
The tool will present end users with several options for the connections including fixed, flexible and interruptible connections. Each connection type will include a costing, time to connection and time to restore in case of fault. The end user can then select the connection based on their risk appetite and scheme requirements. Utilising flexible and interruptible connections will drastically reduce the cost and timing for a connection due to avoided reinforcement while providing the supply resilience needed for a construction site. Automating the process and visualising the options to the end user should significantly increase the uptake of these connections.
This capability represents a substantial technical leap in the automation of electrical connections for construction, promising significant time and cost savings. By the end of the Alpha Phase, we aim to advance from TRL3 to TRL6, and similarly improve integration and commercial readiness, marking a clear progression towards market viability. This will involve the development of a proof of-concept (POC) tool, focusing on HV connections, using a single primary substation within NGED's region. The POC will demonstrate temporary, flexible and interruptible connections, presenting the user with a number of options based on their input load profile.
SIF funding is essential as the project's novel approach and the technical challenges it addresses are not suitable for conventional funding channels within the price control or as part of business-as-usual activities. These sources typically do not support the high-risk, high-reward developments needed for such transformative innovations in the energy sector.
Alternative approaches such as minor enhancements to existing tools or continuing with manual processes were considered. However, these were dismissed because they fail to meet the rapidly evolving demands of the construction sector for flexibility and automation, particularly under the pressing imperative of decarbonisation.
In conclusion, our project represents a transformative step forward in energy network management for construction, delivering a novel tool that significantly advances the capability, efficiency, and sustainability of temporary electrical connections. Funded by the SIF, this tool will set new standards in the industry, directly contributing to the UK's decarbonisation targets and supporting the broader transition to a sustainable future.
Impacts and Benefits
Financial Benefits: Future Reductions in Operating Costs
⦁ Reduced Resourcing to Support Increased Connection Requests
By 2050, we project around 615 works annually in the NGED region requiring temporary grid connections---a dramatic increase from the expected 6 works in 2025. To manage this surge efficiently, the proposed tool will:
⦁ Reduce future resourcing costs for NGED: By streamlining the process, less staff time and fewer resources will be needed to handle the higher volume of requests.
⦁ Improve current process efficiency: The tool will cut down on staff time and costs associated with temporary connection requests.
⦁ Increase the number of processed requests: It will provide applicants with a range of feasible options, enhancing customer service.
These improvements are estimated to save NGED approximately £19.3 million by 2050.
⦁ Reduced Network Reinforcement through Flexible and Interruptible Connections
The structured shift patterns and high-level planning of infrastructure works present a significant opportunity to use flexible connections. The temporary nature of these works and the availability of alternative power sources make it feasible to accept an interruptible supply. This reduces the need for network reinforcement, potentially saving approximately £828 million by 2050. Avoided CML/CI penalties amount to a further £12.18 million by 2050.
⦁ Improved Load Forecasting
While reinforcement will still be necessary in some scenarios, the self-service tool will enable better precision in identifying and prioritising areas with high demand. This will help NGED future-proof their reinforcement strategies, aligning efforts with anticipated demand more effectively.
Cost Savings for Consumers
The project supports the electrification of machinery, enhancing planning and capacity utilization. By minimizing network reinforcement and reducing socialized costs, it contributes to lower energy bills for customers.
Cost Savings for Users of Network Services (Construction Site Planners}
⦁ Quicker Temporary Grid Connections
The tool will expedite temporary grid connections for construction planners, offering connection options that require minimal network reinforcement. This speed and ease of access are crucial for construction projects, allowing timely start of construction and facilitating the decarbonization of machinery.
⦁ Multiple Connection Options
The tool will provide infrastructure planners with multiple connection options based on cost, risk margins, environmental impact, and network overhead capacity. This will allow planners to quantify and mitigate the commercial risks associated with the connection process. By offering data during the planning stages, developers can evaluate and manage the potential risks, enhancing project feasibility and execution.
Environmental Benefits: Carbon Reduction
By significantly reducing the need for network reinforcement, the tool indirectly reduces carbon emissions. Electricity networks play a crucial role in decarbonizing infrastructure and construction. This tool positions NGED as a key facilitator in the transition towards zero-emission construction sites. Ensuring grid connections are readily available will help construction sites reduce their reliance on diesel generators, which are major sources of carbon emissions.
Additionally, reduced reinforcement works will decrease potential network outages, lessening traffic congestion and reducing stress on vulnerable customers.
New Market Products and Services Products:
Currently, there are no tools that automate temporary grid connection requests. This new tool, designed as an add-on to existing connection tools, will significantly enhance their functionality while providing a consistent user experience.
Processes & Services:
The tool will revolutionize the current manual process of requesting temporary grid connections. It will offer users multiple connection options, detailing their costs, feasibility, and fault tolerance. This streamlined process will be simpler than the current approach, allowing more resources to be allocated to complex connection requests requiring manual intervention.
