Driving Innovation with New Smart Meter Project

New ways of using smart meter data could help to equip the electricity network for the mass connection of low carbon technologies, as the result of a new innovation project led by National Grid.

The SMITN project (Smart Meter Innovations & Test Network) will use data from smart meters to give planners added information, helping them to manage load when connecting low carbon technologies, like electric vehicle (EV) chargers and heat pumps.

Thanks to new smart meter technology, we’ll be able to monitor the quality of power supplied by the grid, using this data to help identify which customers are connecting low carbon technologies and where extra capacity may be needed.

By using this technology to improve its own network data, we will also be able to devise self-serve tools and simplify the connections process for thousands of customers wanting to connect EV chargers and heat pumps.

We’re predicting that we will be connecting 1,600 EV chargers every working day by 2028. While EV connection applications have traditionally been assessed by planners, more accurate data will enable customers to do some of the planning themselves, using self-serve tools to determine what they are able to connect and to consider factors like cable size and type.

Innovation Engineer Jenny Woodruff said: “The ultimate aim is to get the best possible data quality, not just for self-serve, but because we are going to need better data to support all sorts of different data applications.

“When we have good quality data, we can do better network planning. We can do it safely, we can automate it, we can make sure phases are more balanced, we can make future networks more efficient, reducing the impact of faults and even predicting future faults. Ultimately, all this will save money and deliver a better service for our customers.”

The SMITN project aims to use data to confirm customer phases and feeders (allowing load to be balanced more effectively), to determine which customers have LCTs and to explore how smart meter data can be used to predict load on LV feeders and distribution substations more accurately.

To achieve all this, we’re working closely with three key partners, CGI, Haysys and Loughborough University. GHD is also working on the project in an assurance role.

We’ll be holding workshops with other distribution network operators to discuss the results of the project and facilitate a collaborative approach going forwards.