SIF AIMS
PRIDE creates a digital twin of regional infrastructure including energy systems,data for properties, etc., to support decision-making. It provides advancedvisualisation capabilities and supports embedded scenario-based modelling.Decarbonising major energy demands is therefore accelerated as the digital twinsupports the selection of options that are faster and/or better overall value formoney to deploy.

THE INNOVATION
PRIDE will assess use cases to support decision-making and rank their potentialimpact under different governance structures. We will determine where:

• use case requirements are already met
• minor enhancements are required
• entirely new datasets/models are needed

We will develop a plan for an enhanced prototype to be developed in the Alphaphase. The potential for integration with the National Grid Virtual Energy System(VES) will be assessed.

EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITY
Advanced Infrastructure is an enterprise SaaS partner for DNOs and localgovernments. The company leads the digitalisation of the Energy System Catapultmethodology for Local Area Energy Planning in the form of the LAEP+ tool. Thepartner has delivered multiple projects under the Government Design Principlesand developed tools for data management, visualisation and zoning and APIintegrations with network capacity assessment. The partner has worked on pastNIA RESOP and InnovateUK PfER LEO projects.

The WMCA's Energy Capital provides specialist knowledge of place-based energyinnovation and stakeholder involvement in whole energy systems, where givingcities and localities a stronger role within the UK's current energy regulationsoffers significant potential for added value, while supporting net zero transition.The WMCA has completed the prior work needed to inform the development ofPRIDE within the context of whole system planning and delivery and have adetailed understanding of local needs.

NGED brings experience of automated network modelling and forecasting futureload profiles from EPIC, the energy efficiency modelling within DEFENDER andthe understanding of local flexibility from Equinox and FutureFlex.

NG ESO's VES development provides background experience for creating andmanaging digital twins.

USERS
The project's outputs are designed to support decarbonisation investmentdecision-makers. PRIDE addresses their needs by developing tools for the usecases of greatest value under different organisational structures. PRIDE paves theway for a Beta phase trial using the tool to assess local engagement andgovernance process, bringing together decision-makers and utilising the WMCA'sNet Zero Infrastructure Delivery Panel governance structure. This would providevaluable evidence for the ESOs future system operator work and Ofgem's localgovernance programme.

Problem Bring Solved

PRIDE tackles the problem of regional infrastructure investment decisions failingto take local impacts and opportunities into account. For example, if transportinfrastructure is planned without reference to the electricity network capacity thencosts will be increased. A platform that enables sophisticated scenario-basedmodelling can help identify potential synergies and quantify business cases.