RP7 Stakeholder Consultation WEB - Flipbook - Page 30
Q11. In light of the current cost of
living crisis facing our customers,
we believe that option 1 strikes
the best balance between
network risk and cost. Do you
agree with this approach? Should
we be going further?
Northern Ireland’s unique geography
means that our network has historically
been designed with some particularly
small-capacity assets, constructed
many years ago, which are not future
ready and for which the connection
of even one LCT will cause them
to become overloaded, posing an
immediate safety and network risk.
For example, there are a considerable
number of 5kVA transformers on the
electricity network. The connection of
a standard 7kVA home EV charger will
immediately overload the transformer
causing a network and safety risk. The
same applies for looped services and
low rated fuses in electricity meter
boxes.
Figure 11 - NIE Networks’ capacity map
30
Northern Ireland Electricty Networks
Considering that currently only
approximately 30% of customers are
telling us when they have installed
a LCT, it is difficult to identify ahead
of need which transformers could
become overloaded. We believe we
need to replace all 5kVa transformers
as soon as possible. This will also
deliver cost efficiency and disruption
minimisation benefits, as we will be
able to programme work in the most
efficient way, as opposed to reactively
responding when a customer connects
LCTs in geographically dispersed areas.
Q12. We therefore propose that
we proactively upgrade these
assets in RP7. Do you agree?
Finally, to facilitate net zero, we need
to ensure that the distribution network
does not become a blocker to the
connection of additional renewable
generation. According to our charging
methodology, smaller generators
connected to our secondary network do
not pay for reinforcement on our primary
network (33kV). Our consultants have
forecast that an additional 500MW of
these smaller generators are likely to
connect to the secondary distribution
network by 2030, largely driven by the
80% RES-e target and the current
energy crisis. The Energy Strategy for
Northern Ireland Action Plan, outlined
that a renewable generation support
scheme will be delivered in 2023. Until
this is delivered and generators start
applying for network connections, there
will be limited certainty around what part
of the network and which substations
generation will seek to connect to,
or indeed the size and type of the
constituent generation.
This is against a backdrop of an already
heavily congestion distribution network
as a consequence of facilitating the
2020 40% RES-e target, illustrated
by the ‘red’ substations in our capacity
map with no or low capacity for the
connection of additional renewable
generation.
