GridON’s Fault Current Limiter commissioned into service by ETI at a UK Power Networks substation

6th June 2013

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has installed and commissioned into service a revolutionary new fault current limiter (FCL) at a UK Power Networks main substation in Newhaven, East Sussex.

The FCL suppresses the damaging currents which result from electricity distribution network faults thereby increasing network capability and reliability.Developed and manufactured by Israel-based GridON with its Australian partner the Wilson Transformer Company, this innovative state-of-the-art FCL enables the cost-effective growth and increased flexibility of electricity distribution systems.

Removing the fault level constraints without costly network upgrades enables the installation of more low carbon and other electricity generation directly onto the distribution system, with shorter connection times and reduced connection costs. It also enables smart distribution networks with increased network efficiency, flexibility, reliability and resilience. The breakthrough in design removes the need for superconducting components which results in a simple, reliable and low maintenance solution. It is fully scaleable for use at all voltage levels on both distribution and transmission systems. This will potentially help minimise the costs of upgrading the UK’s electricity distribution and transmission networks over the next 20 to 30 years.

The design is based on combining industry-standard, proven transformer technology with GridON’s unique and proprietary concept of magnetic flux alteration to saturate the iron core. GridON’s device offers performance benefits including instant, self-triggering response to a fault, immediate recovery following clearance of the fault without network interruption, and suppression of multiple consecutive faults. It is the first such fully tested, commercially viable non superconducting pre-saturated fault current limiter.

The FCL has been comprehensively tested by a certified high power laboratory in Australia, where it underwent more than 50 fault tests, before being shipped to the UK. The FCL is now in service on the 11kV distribution network and it will be demonstrated in operation for two years.

UK Power Networks has fully approved the design and testing, and for the purposes of the demonstration, is acting as network operation customer. E.ON’s New Build & Technology division is providing technical assurance expertise and network modelling support.

Nick Eraut, ETI Project Manager - Energy Storage & Distribution, said: “Upgrading the UK electricity distribution network to meet radically changing requirements will potentially cost tens of billions of pounds over the next 20 to 30 years. This investment is critical to ensuring that we have a system that is able to support a range of energy technologies now in development. This is the first of two FCL developments commissioned and funded by the ETI. We believe that GridON’s new FCL will offer major advantages to distribution network operators and suppliers of distributed generation equipment.”

Yoram Valent, Co-founder and Chief Executive of GridON, said: “The successful commissioning of GridON’s fully-tested FCL into service on UK Power Networks’ system demonstrates the potential for increa99999hsing generation and network connectivity, and for significant cuts in system upgrade costs, by providing operators and network designers with FCLs as part of their toolkit. The ever-increasing network complexity, competitive power markets, rapidly growing intermittent renewable supply and aging infrastructure conspire to challenge system operators daily. Our use of well-established manufacturing technology and our product’s inherent simplicity and minimal maintenance requirements, combined with its superior fit-to-purpose performance, will significantly cut capital expenditures and operating costs and extend the useful life of existing network assets.”

Martin Wilcox, Head of Future Networks, UK Power Networks commented: “High fault levels impact both how we operate and the connection offers we are able to provide to generation customers. GridON’s fault current limiter looks to be a good solution to avoid having to replace switchgear prematurely or unnecessary interruptions to customers supplies. The similarity in design to our existing transformer fleet minimises additional impact on our operation and maintenance teams. It should also enable us to better work with generation customers to provide the best value solution on fault level constrained parts of our network.”

Andrew Ellis, Head of Electrical Power Engineering at E.ON New Build & Technology, said: “High fault levels in distribution networks are increasingly becoming a constraint for the connection of environmentally friendly distributed generation. Active fault current management through fault current limiters is an ideal way forward in mitigating this risk, both technically and commercially. We expect that the FCL device that has been developed under this project will take us much closer to the realisation of a viable solution for our distribution networks and distributed generation projects.”