A North East clean energy firm is taking part in a project which could revolutionise power restoration in the UK.
Northern Powergrid, which is responsible for the electricity distribution network that powers the North East, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire, has partnered with Sunderland’s energy storage company Hyperdrive Innovation and OffGrid Energy, based in Rugby, on the two-year trial called Silent Power.
The distribution firm is developing electric vans with on-board energy storage systems, which aim to replace noisy and polluting diesel generators during power cuts and planned works.
The Silent Power trial is the first UK low-carbon innovation which aims to serve up a sustainable solution to restoring supplies to customers, especially the most vulnerable and those with domestic solar generation, who have a power cut.
The firms say the pioneering project could signal a huge clean-energy shift in the temporary power industry.
As part of the trial, electric vans with on-board energy storage systems quietly and cleanly restore power to customers during power cuts or essential maintenance work, putting power back in to up to three homes or a small community centre with just one van for 24 hours, and even longer if those homes have domestic solar generation.
Training was completed earlier this year and the first vehicle will be on the streets of Northern Powergrid’s operating area this month.
Diesel generators can’t be sent out to homes that export as well as consume power, and some areas also have access issues and generators cause air and sound pollution.
Silent Power was launched to find a quiet and cleaner alternative which allows Northern Powergrid to reach more customers in need and the electric vans’ lithium ion batteries are silent during operation. The electricity from the Silent Power batteries also aims to be more reliable than diesel generators, which can trip out.
Northern Powergrid currently deploys more than 2,500 diesel generators a year to provide temporary power restoration during planned and unplanned power cuts each year.
Hyperdrive Innovation, which designs and manufactures lithium-ion battery systems, and OffGrid Energy, a specialist developer of hybrid generator systems, developed the prototype generator unit.
“The UK battery and storage industry is on the cusp of significant growth and we are now starting to identify ways in which the lives of everyday people can be enhanced with technology like ours,” said Stephen Irish, CEO of Hyperdrive.
“Projects like Silent Power are bringing bold British innovation to the doorstep of every household and we are proud to be involved.
“Despite much political uncertainty at the moment, it’s reassuring that this blossoming high-tech sector can not only drive UK jobs and growth, but can become the backbone of good old fashioned community support delivered by the team at Northern Powergrid.”
Ross McFarlane, innovation project manager for Northern Powergrid, said: “Alongside the direct customer benefit, we are very excited by the wider positive environmental impact of this trial. Many industries need temporary power supplies, if this can be shared across other sectors, we have another way to bring more renewable sources into our energy mix.”
Danny Jones, director of OffGrid Energy, added: “The Silent Power project has been a great opportunity to take our low carbon power solutions to another level, adding a further dimension in driving out emissions from the electricity networks.
“Working with Northern Powergrid has been a great experience for us at Off Grid where their vision and support has enabled us to push boundaries in ways that would not have otherwise been possible.”
