HV Pilot launches to map HV-LV connections in GB
Image: National Grid Electricity Distribution
National Grid Electricity Distribution has launched HV Pilot to map how HV networks connect to LV systems in rural Britain.
With funding from Ofgem’s Network Innovation Allowance, the HV Pilot project intends to use smart meter data, helicopter survey insights and machine learning for the mapping.
The aim is to develop a data-driven approach to help identify where reinforcement might be needed to accommodate growing demands for electricity, particularly in rural areas where single phase HV sections and transformers can lead to network imbalances and inefficiencies.
“Understanding exactly how our HV network is connected at a phase level is essential for a smarter, more flexible grid,” said David Penfold, innovation and deployment engineer at National Grid Electricity Distribution.
“This project empowers us to make data-driven decisions, leading to optimised rural infrastructure. It’s about precision, innovation and preparing for a future powered by clean, reliable electricity.”
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Electrical power distribution on overhead 11kV networks often includes instances where a three-phase network supplies single-phase sections of line and/or single-phase transformers.
However, the exact connectivity, identifying how the phases are connected is often missing from network models and accurate modelling is crucial for predicting network changes, demand increases and renewable integration.
The HV Pilot project is being undertaken with CGI and Loughborough University with the goal to deliver a low-cost, scalable solution to improve phase balancing through determining the phasing of HV feeders and associated single-phase transformers without the need for additional visual surveys.
If successful, the project could save up to an estimated £2.9 million ($3.9 million) through targeted interventions and improved network management.
It could also reduce voltage issues for rural customers, improve efficiency and increase the number of connections opportunities.
Gav Berry, secondary modelling engineer in the National Grid DSO modelling and analysis team, adds that accurate phasing data can improve National Grid Electricity Distribution power system models and provide network designers with the information required to design a balanced and efficient electricity network.
“We’re looking forward to working with CGI and Loughborough University to see how we could make this innovative method work.”
HV Pilot launched in April 2025 and runs through June 2026.
