Learnings

Outcomes

The project has positively developed:
• A multi-Party Agreement which enables the GB Transmission Owners to work together to acquire and validate a new system model that will enhance, as well as de-risk the integration of new technologies.
• MHI have completed the build of the PSCAD models for all TOs and provided the full GB model along with supporting tools.
• Computing resource for GB TOs and NGESO has been selected and procured.
• A successful face-to-face knowledge transfer workshop to ensure TOs have a more thorough understanding of the model features and best practices to follow when using it. 

Lessons Learnt

This project was an extension to the original TOTEM project and as such the lessons learned have been established through the findings of completing both TOTEM & TOTEM Extension, lessons being:
• Developing the 4-Party Agreement, which required finding common ground between the individual GB TOs, has emphasised the different contracting approaches that each of the GB TOs use. The deliverables associated with this Project are highly technical and require the procurement of specific computing equipment to sit internally within each of the GB TO Parties premises. Given the surrounding complexity of the Project it was not suitable for placement with an external third-Party to project manage. The benefits with using a third-Party to co-ordinate would have enabled a simpler interface contractually i.e. each of the GB TOs would have contracted separately with the third-Party project management organisation, then the third-Party would have contracted the PSCAD model Supplier.
• This was the first time MHI had undertaken a whole scale network PSCAD build with the combination of different TOs. The task turned out to be more complex than originally anticipated, leading to the extension of project timescales. It is important to enter a modelling Contract providing as much clarity as possible in the early stages to enable a realistic timescale. If possible, initial sharing of the network data (e.g. ETYS network model) with potential suppliers at pre-contract stage is suggested to ensure proper understanding of the project scope. Once under Contract any additional information needs to be provided as soon as possible, to enable the Contractor to provide a realistic timescale and where possible share how it could be accelerated.
• The PSCAD software is more complex than other tools currently used for power system analysis and requires greater flexibility and control over the computing environment it runs in. For example, it is necessary to be able to install and link to different Fortran compilers according to the specific models being used. This presents challenges for the IT infrastructure and support in the TOs that may have to develop new approaches to support the use of this type of software. In establishing a high-power computing resource, the project is exploring and confirming the requirements that can be applied in future projects.
• Delaying the project an extra two months allowed for MHI to conduct a face-to-face knowledge transfer workshop which ultimately benefited the TOs hugely as more topics were covered in person rather than virtually and it allowed hands-on exercises to be conducted on the model. The hands-on workshop allowed for specific study methodology on selected topics to be carried out.