Centre for Sustainable Power Distribution
Our people
- Professor Raj Aggarwal (Director)
- Dr Martin Balchin
- Dr Gareth Buchanan
- Dr Miles Davis
- Dr Rod Dunn
- Professor Chris Harris
- Professor Furong Li
- Dr Miles Redfern
- Dr Francis Robinson
- Professor John Scott
- Dr Weijia Yuan
The Centre for Sustainable Power Distribution aims to help cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
Our work focuses on making energy supply systems more secure, reliable and efficient.
We are at the forefront of research into smart grids, which balance the needs of generators and users and make greater use of renewable energy. Our sponsors include major power companies.
Success stories
We have installed Britain's first local DC computer network in the University library.
The system runs 50 specially adapted computers and is quieter, faster and more efficient than the previous network. It could lower the University's energy costs by £25,000 a year.
We have also written network charging methodologies for several generating companies. A study by electricity watchdog Ofgem said our ideas could save £200m in long-term development costs.
What are we working on?
We are carrying out studies into using our efficient DC networks in schools, homes and offices. The project will involve working with Western Power Distribution and RWE npower.
We are also hoping to install solar panels and a wind turbine on the roof of the University library, helping Bath meet national green energy targets.
In detail
The Centre for Sustainable Power Distribution is widely recognised as a centre of research excellence within the area of electrical power and energy systems.
We research all aspects of power generation, transmission and distribution. We have internationally recognised expertise in:
- Power system planning
- Operation and management
- Security and stability analysis of large system
- Control and protection of power system
- Distributed generation
- Power system economic and market operation
- FACTS
- Condition monitoring and protection of power plants
We are heavily involved in EPSRC's Supergen programme, dealing with issues of:
- Sustainable power generation and supply
- Future Network Technologies: Ensuring the continuance a reliable supply of power to the UK
- Energy Storage: Developing new materials to advance rechargeable lithium ion battery and supercapacitor technologies
Our main areas of research are:
- Power system planning, operation and management
- Control and protection of power systems
- Modeling and simulation of extended electrical power networks
- Sustainable and renewable energy generation and integration
- Power system security and stability analysis
- Power system dynamic analysis
- Wind speed modelling and wind power forecasting
- Flexible AC transmission systems
- Distribution generation
- Power system emergency control and restoration
- Power electronics
- Power system economics
Our centre comprises around 10 academic staff and 25 research officers and postgraduates. We also have a visiting fellow, David Tolley (previously commercial manager of NPower).
We also have two visiting professors: John Scott (formerly technical director of Ofgem), and Chris Harris, director of retail at RWE npower. Both have extensive practical experience and expertise.
The area of power system economics was strengthened by the award of an EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship to Dr Furong Li in 2006.
We have substantial co-operative research grants and contracts from research councils and manufacturing and utilities companies. We also welcome many visiting fellows from overseas institutions and companies.
We are funded by:
- National Grid
- Western Power Distribution
- Toshiba
- Ofgem
- Scottish Power
- Areva
- Scottish and Southern Energy
- Midlands Energy
- Garrad Hassan
Our equipment includes:
- A state-of-the-art real-time digital simulator system (RTDS)
- A micro-grid system
- Fly-wheel energy storage devices
