Background
Andrew is a Senior Research Associate in Low Carbon Energy Networks with the Centre for Renewable Energy and Systems Technology. Andrew is leading research projects with UK Distribution Network Operators aimed at enabling the connection of low carbon technologies such as solar PV, heat pumps and electric vehicles, to the grid.
There is often a need to increase the visibility and understanding of the existing grid connectivity. Andrew has worked with colleagues in CREST and with National Grid Electricity Distribution to develop methods using smart meter data to infer the phases and topographic locations of customers, so that the capacity available for new connections can be assessed more accurately.
Andrew’s broader research interests cover the design of networks that can support an increased number of solar PV systems, electric vehicles, heat pumps and electricity storage. This means understanding the relationships between the time variation and flexibility of electricity demand, and the physical design of feeder networks, cables, transformers and of the low carbon technology appliances. Andrew has developing Python-based tools for network power-flow analysis and electricity demand simulation that enable detailed models to be created, verified against real-world data as part of the Western Power Distribution ‘Losses Investigation’ NIA project.