SUPERGEN 1 Renewal Core - FlexNet: Renewal of the Supergen consortium on Future Network Technologies

FlexNet的目标是研究未来的电网形式。这是一个巨大的挑战，因为电力网络是由寿命长的设备组成的，这些设备通常会使用50多年，更换这些设备的成本很高。英国的大部分网络是在20世纪60年代和70年代建造的，很快就要更换了。这既是机遇，也是威胁。更换计划必须经受住时间的考验，否则子孙后代将面临做出改变的巨额账单。我们正处于发电前景不确定的时刻。我们知道低碳能源是目标，但支持海上风能所需的网络与支持国内规模燃料电池的网络截然不同。关键将是规划、设计和建设足够灵活的网络，以满足几种截然不同的情况。不过，这种灵活性是有限度的。首先，灵活性通常需要更多的投资，而电力消费者最终会为此买单。其次，电力网络是影响当地社区的重大项目，这些社区对什么技术是可以接受的有重要的看法。第三，灵活性要求对网络进行更高级别的实时控制，这给分析和实施带来了挑战。FlexNet将研究提供灵活性的技术，有效鼓励投资的市场机制，以及公众态度可能影响可以做的事情的方式。FlexNet是由大学、电力网络运营商、设备制造商和非政府组织组成的联盟。这七所大学结合了电气工程、经济和社会科学方面的专业知识。该联盟建立在其前身FutureNet的工作基础上。

FlexNet has been set the goal of researching the future form of the electricity network. This is a great challenge because electricity networks are formed from long lifetime equipment that will often be in place for more than 50 years and which costs a great deal to replace. Much of the UK network was constructed in the 1960s and 1970s and falls due for replacement soon. This is both an opportunity and a threat. The plans for replacement must stand the test of time or future generations will face a large bill for making changes. We are at a point where the future of electricity generation is uncertain. We know that low-carbon energy is the objective but the network required to support offshore wind is very different from the network to support domestic-scale fuel cells. The key will be to plan, design and build networks that are sufficiently flexible to meet several quite different scenarios. There are limits to the flexibility though. First, flexibility generally requires more investment for which electricity consumers ultimately pay. Second, electrical networks are major projects that impact local communities and those communities' have important views on what technology is acceptable. Third, flexibility calls for a far greater level of real-time control of the network which poses challenges in analysis and implementation. FlexNet will research the technologies to provide flexibility, the market mechanisms through which investment is encouraged efficiently and the way in which public attitudes might shape what can be done. FlexNet is a consortium of universities, electrical network operators, equipment manufacturers and NGOs. The seven universities combine expertise in electrical engineering, economics and social science. The consortium builds on the work of its predecessor, FutureNet.