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A soft open point (SOP) is a power electronic device, usually using back-to-back voltage source converters (VSCs), installed at a previously normally open point of a distribution network. Due to its flexible and accurate control of power flows, an SOP is versatile, and increasingly being considered to mitigate voltage and thermal constraints in medium voltage (MV) networks with high penetrations of distributed generation (DG). A Jacobian matrix - based sensitivity method was used to define the operating region of an SOP when the grids/feeders at the two terminals of the SOP have various load and generation conditions, and the SOP operating region was visualized in a graphical manner. The exact operating set-points were determined by adopting a non-linear optimization considering separately different objectives. The methodology was demonstrated on an 11 kV network, considering three optimization objectives with different DG penetrations and different network observabilities. Results showed that the use of an SOP significantly increases the network’s DG hosting capacity. The objective for voltage profile improvement increased the headroom of the voltage limits by the largest margin, at the expense of increased energy losses. In contrast the objectives to achieve line utilization balancing and energy loss minimization showed the most improvement in circuit utilization and in limiting energy losses. The work helps electricity network operators to visualize an SOP’s operation status, and provides high level decision support, e.g. selecting control schemes and restraining SOP operational boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitumen tanks were tested to investigate the capability of industrial heating loads to provide frequency response to an electric power system. A decentralized control algorithm was developed enabling the tanks to alter their power consumption in proportion to the variations of grid frequency. The control maintains the normal operation of tanks and causes little impact on their primary function of storing hot bitumen. Field investigations were undertaken on 76 tanks with power ratings from 17 to 75~kW. A model of a population of controlled tanks was developed. The behavior of the tanks was compared between the simulations and the field tests. The model of controlled tanks was then integrated with a simplified Great Britain power system model. It was shown that the controlled tanks were able to contribute to the grid frequency control in a manner similar to and faster than that provided by frequency-sensitive generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of electric vehicles increases, the impact of their charging on distribution networks is being investigated using different load profiles. Due to the lack of real charging data, the majority of these load impact studies are making assumptions for the electric vehicle charging demand profiles. In this paper a two-step modelling framework was developed to extract the useful information hidden in real EVs charging event data. Real EVs charging demand data were obtained from Plugged-in Midlands (PiM) project, one of the eight ‘Plugged-in Places’ projects supported by the UK Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). A data mining model was developed to investigate the characteristics of electric vehicle charging demand in a geographical area. A Fuzzy-Based model aggregates these characteristics and estimates the potential relative risk level of EVs charging demand among different geographical areas independently to their actual corresponding distribution networks. A case study with real charging and weather data from three counties in UK is presented to demonstrate the modelling framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A large amount of wind power generation capacity is expected to be installed in Great Britain by 2020. A considerable amount of this capacity will be located in Scotland. This will require reinforcement of power transmission capacity between Scotland and England. Analysis of the impact of a large amount of wind generation capacity on the electricity network requires modelling of wind power output. Due to the lack of available wind power output data a method for artificially generating wind power output from real wind speed data was developed. The technique is based on monthly wind speed averages used to generate Weibull distributions. Hourly wind power output time series over one year are generated for 18 onshore and offshore locations in Great Britain. Capacity factors, maxima, minima and hourly output variations, their means and standard deviations are calculated. A comparison of statistical parameters of the generated data with those of real wind power output shows that both have similar statistical properties. The geographically distributed wind power output data is used in conjunction with an optimal load flow model for analysing three network case studies. One case study uses a hypothesised 2020 Great Britain transmission network the other two cases enhance the network with an Eastern and Western HVDC line linking Scotland and England. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of both HVDC lines in reducing wind generation curtailments and operational costs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A novel integrated energy and transport system modelling approach is described. • A combination of heat and transport decarbonisation options are assessed. • Managed EV charging and vehicle to grid reduces energy system (opex + capex) costs. • Hydrogen technologies for heating and transport are costly to implement. • An integrated energy system enables increased utilisation of renewable energy. Decarbonisation of heating and road transport are regarded as necessary but very challenging steps on the pathway to net zero carbon emissions. Assessing the most efficient routes to decarbonise these sectors requires an integrated view of energy and road transport systems. Here we describe how a national gas and electricity transmission network model was extended to represent multiple local energy systems and coupled with a national energy demand and road transport model. The integrated models were applied to assess a range of technologies and policies for heating and transport where the UK's 2050 net zero carbon emissions target is met. Overall, annual primary energy use is projected to reduce by between 25% and 50% by 2050 compared to 2015, due to ambitious efficiency improvements within homes and vehicles. However, both annual and peak electricity demands in 2050 are more than double compared with 2015. Managed electric vehicle charging could save 14TWh/year in gas-fired power generation at peak times, and associated emissions, whilst vehicle-to-grid services could provide 10GW of electricity supply during peak hours. Together, managed vehicle charging, and vehicle-to-grid supplies could result in a 16% reduction in total annual energy costs. The provision of fast public charging facilities could reduce peak electricity demand by 17GW and save an estimated £650 million annually. Although using hydrogen for heating and transport spreads the hydrogen network costs between homeowners and motorists, it is still estimated to be more costly overall compared to an all-electric scenario. Bio-energy electricity generation plants with carbon capture and storage are required to drive overall energy system emissions to net zero, utilisation of which is lowest when heating is electrified, and road transport consists of a mix of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. The analysis demonstrates the need for an integrated systems approach to energy and transport policies and for coordination between national and local governments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrification of heat supply is a widely discussed strategy for decarbonizing the heat sector in the Great Britain (GB). This impacts the electricity load duration curve and affects the optimal mix of power generation technologies. Additionally, the price of electricity and the emission from the grid determine whether the electrified heat is cost-effective and low carbon. These interdependencies necessitate adopting an integrated approach for long term planning of heat and electricity supplies to ensure cost-effective decarbonization. In this work, we have developed an iterative approach for investigating optimal mix of technologies in electricity and heat sectors considering the interactions between these sectors. This approach was applied to GB as a case study. Firstly, the capacity and operation of various technologies for electricity generation were determined to supply electricity demand (including electricity demand for heating) with a minimum annualized cost. Then, using the levelized cost of electricity calculated in the power generation mix optimization problem, the optimal heat supply mix was determined through the minimization of annualized cost. The iterative optimization of electricity and heat was continued until an equilibrium was achieved. The results were compared with a centralized optimization model that heat and electricity supply problems are solved simultaneously. • Interaction of the heat and electricity supply systems is modeled and investigated. • A bilevel model is developed and solved using an interactive method. • Heat and electricity supply systems are also solved using a centralized model. • Comparison of two methods show the advantage of bilevel modeling of energy sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organisation recognises the importance of dementia education across all sectors of the population, including children. Previous research has shown that dementia education in schools has positively changed students' knowledge about and attitudes to dementia, however little is known about the process of learning about a complex condition, such as dementia. This paper explores how pupils learn about dementia through a pre-planned educational session in the primary classroom to improve our understanding of the pedagogical approaches required for effective dementia education. Using a participatory video approach, 23 primary 6 pupils (aged 10-11) used iPads to film their experiences of a dementia education session using a resource called Understanding Dementia: Class in a Bag. These videos, along with researcher field notes were combined to create analytical vignettes to illustrate the learning processes and interactions that happened within the classroom. Two weeks later, the pupils were invited to a focus group to view footage of the session and reflect on their experiences and explore the understanding of dementia. The findings highlight the importance of embodied learning within the session, particularly in understanding the experience of living with dementia. By understanding the session from the pupil's perspective, the findings show how pupils developed an empathetic understanding of dementia through play and felt more confident about engaging with and helping people living with dementia in future. This paper provides a new understanding of the process of learning about dementia for primary children, as well as demonstrating the viability of including dementia education within school curriculums internationally.

The decarbonisation of residential heating is crucial if the net-zero target in the United Kingdom is going to be achieved. This paper describes methods to produce data to quantify the impacts of residential heat decarbonisation on the energy supply infrastructure across England and Wales. For the year 2018, annual heat demand for a range of dwellings was estimated for almost 35,000 local areas (known as Lower Layer Super Output Areas: LSOAs). Energy savings through implementing the potential energy efficiency measures and the indicative costs of the energy efficiency measures were quantified. Profiles were synthesised for heat production and energy demand of selected heating technologies using average daily temperature and data from trial projects. These profiles were created to study the impacts of different types of heating technology in each LSOA under user-defined heat decarbonisation pathways. Data describing the dwelling stock, heating technologies, annual heat demand for each LSOA, indicative costs of energy efficiency improvements for each local authority and the profiles for each technology were created., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

There is increasing recognition of animal-assisted interventions as a promising area of practice within health and social care for people living with dementia. However, much of the research focuses on benefits for those living in care homes and not in their own homes. The Dementia Dog Project is an innovative project that aims to support people with dementia to engage with dogs and to promote the use of dogs in dementia care in the community. The pilot project introduced a dementia assistance dog to four couples where one person had a diagnosis of dementia. The aim of this paper is to explore the mechanisms that can successfully expose the benefits of integrating dogs into dementia care by drawing on the findings of a realistic evaluation of the pilot phase of the Dementia Dog Project (2013-2015). A realistic evaluation, with its focus on context, mechanisms and outcomes illuminates why an approach may work in some situations but not in others. This makes it especially appropriate to the unique, complex experience of living with dementia and the early development stage of the programme. The analysis triangulated data from a range of primary and secondary sources including interviews with the project team, case reports, team meeting notes and transcripts of interviews with participants. The findings identified three mechanisms that help to unlock the most positive outcomes for both the participants and the dogs. These were (1) the human-animal bond, (2) relationship dynamics and (3) responsibility of caring. The findings presented within this paper provide essential information to inform and advance the planning for the use of assistance dogs for people with dementia.

A right-sided pneumothorax developed several hours after atrial lead repositioning following otherwise straightforward implantation of a biventricular defibrillator from a left subclavian approach. Right atrial lead perforation was presumed, though this could not be demonstrated on computed tomography. The patient was managed conservatively and made a full recovery.