Professor Furong Li, University of Bath

To deliver the UK’s Clean Power 2030 plan, towards net zero by 2050, while ensuring affordable and resilient supply, electricity distribution network operators (DNOs) have to optimise network investment and operation, and the information and incentives they share with network customers to unlock their flexibility.   
 
However, today’s power system modelling paradigm is monolithic. Data, functions and graphical user interface (GUI) are tightly coupled. They have poor scalability and agility, and are unfit for a rapidly changing low-carbon system that will reconcile energy affordability with security and decarbonisation.  
 
Inspired by the open microservice architecture and through a close collaboration with National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), Professor Furong Li will develop an open, scalable and interoperable whole energy system model. The key aim is to substantially increase the wider energy sector’s access to open and transparent whole-energy system data, models and evidence at a granular level, empowering energy users, big or small, to make informed decisions to improve cost and resilience whilst support the shift from supply-driven to demand-driven decarbonization. The outcomes will increase the confidence of DNOs and the wider stakeholders in strategic investments in the face of deep uncertainty and rising complexity. At the same time, it will enable rapid integration of renewables and greater flexibility to drive accelerated power sector decarbonisation at lower cost and faster pace.