1. The Northern Ireland Intelligent Energy
Proposition
Beyond the Sustainable Energy Horizon Panel
Report
Energy Storage Solutions for an Intelligent Future
22nd November 2013
Garry Staunton

2. Matrix mission:
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To provide advice to NI government on maximising the economic impact of
R&D, science and innovation.
Represent the voice of high tech industry
Champion the role of Science and Technology.
To identify future high tech market opportunities for NI
Backdrop:
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Northern Ireland must move to an economy based on new high-tech, high
value-added industries
Develop world class capabilities in high technology and high-level scientific
skills to capture market share
Overcome the perceived disadvantages of a SME based economy
Vision:
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Supporting NI’s economy based on a Science &
Technology Exploitation System which is:
• Led by business
• Inspired by Academia
• Facilitated by Government
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3. Sustainable Energy Horizon Study
Study underpinned by:
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Technology Capability Mapping Study
Review/identification of global market opportunities
Identification of barriers
Backdrop highlights NI challenges for sustainable energy:
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40% renewable energy target by 2020 – large.
Most capacity will be from relatively cheap onshore wind.
Existing grid system not designed to handle this.
Resulting in curtailment of wind farms.
Present solution is to spend £100’s m on grid upgrades...
 which adds cost and delay to project development, and increases
electricity bills.
Resultant opportunity for NI:
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To
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make better use of the existing grid system through....
Increased interconnection (N/S and E/W)
Energy Storage
Demand Side Management
…. all working as part of an intelligent energy system......
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4. Intelligent Energy Systems are a clear opportunity
Vision: NI as an internationally recognised reference site for the demonstration of
commercially viable integrated energy solutions that have relevance for global
applications and markets
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HISTORIC SYSTEM
Centralised supply
One -way data flow
Consumers
DG
Storage
DSM
Consumers
DG
Storage
DSM
Large scale
generation
Commercial
DG
Storage
Low voltage distribution
Consumers
Power
• Energy storage – development
and demonstration of efficient
storage systems at medium
and small scales
Commercial
DG
Storage
Transmission
High voltage distribution
• ‘Intelligent’ and grid integrated
renewable generation solutions
INTELLIGENT SYSTEM
Data & controls
Innovative market mechanisms and business models
Consumers
DG
Storage
DSM
• Enabling technologies such as
automated control systems
• ITC – e.g. the development of
‘open source protocols’ for
intelligent control systems
• New business models – that
enable distributed generation
and storage to work cost
effectively.
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5. Why NI is well placed
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6. The Benefits for Northern Ireland
• Facilitates realisation of renewable electricity,
renewable heat and energy efficiency targets
• Optimise potential for commercial deployment
of regional technology e.g. bioenergy, wind,
micro renewables and energy storage
• Underpins creation of regional supply chains in
key technology areas
• Raises the profile of the region as an
international leader in sustainable energy
• Additional environmental benefits, e.g.
avoidance of waste disposal & nutrient
recycling
• Empower consumers to become participants in
the energy system
• Creates exportable capital in terms of
know-how and IP
Intelligent Energy Systems
2020-2030
2010-2020
0.8 GW
Grid scale
energy storage
in 2020
£400 bn
£600 bn
Forecast global investment
Grid integration of distributed
renewable integration forecast to
grow globally from £2.5 bn in
2012 to £8 bn in 2018 – the
majority associated with energy
storage and micro grids (Pike
Research, 2012)
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7. SEHP Recommendations
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8. Forward Implementation Plan
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9. Key first step
• New Intelligent Energy System Group to be set up under revised
Terms of Reference – overview, guidance and monitoring
1. Immediate Execution
of MATRIX FIP
‘Maintain momentum’
• Drive forward FIP.
• Ministerial level representation
• Recruitment of dynamic and commercially orientated IESNI Delivery
Team for day to day management of FIP – strongly linked to
stakeholders in business, academia and Government
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10. The Collaborative Network is a critical interim step
in establishing and resourcing IESNI
IESNI will have to take a visible leadership role in the commercial validation
of IES solutions and accelerate their ‘coming to market’
This entity will:
• Have a visible, dynamic and influential leader with a strong business background.
• Actively leverage the integrated capabilities of NI business and academia
• Specify and develop a ‘reference site’
• Provide a ‘shop window’ and single contact point/voice for NI IES community
• Work with NIE, regulatory bodies and technology companies to develop a common
understanding of the impact of an IES on gas and electricity grids
• Identify the specific components of an IES
• Map this on to what NI companies can provide (products and services)
• Identify the gaps/opportunities for NI companies to respond
• Develop approaches to establishing the costs and benefits of an IES
• Support the integrated development of micro-grid & community energy systems
• Act as a bridge to related activities in other countries
– seek synergies, improvements (made in NI) and market export opportunities
IESNI will need to work closely with a strong and influential counterpart
within Government
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11. Questions?
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12. Additional Slides
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13. Intelligent Energy System
An Intelligent Energy System (IES)
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Supports the real time monitoring and control required in order to
continuously balance generation and load on the lower voltage grid network
Is a key enabler of grid connected renewables especially those forming part
of a community energy system
• i.e. wind , PV, AD and hydro
Must provide increased robustness and resilience
New products and services will have to be tested at an appropriate scale,
under real operational conditions before scale adoption
In principle NI is ideally suited to be such a test bed
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From which NI will be able to be exported to (the many) other regions and
countries that face similar grid upgrade challenges
The IES Vision for NI:
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Within 10 years Northern Ireland will be an internationally recognised
exporter of global solutions forged from the development of the lowest cost,
sustainable energy infrastructure in Europe:
 Created by thriving, indigenous businesses;
 Exploiting the regions natural, intellectual and entrepreneurial capital.
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14. Industrial Capacity
Approx 500 companies active in one or more segment; 77 % within wind,
marine, bioenergy and micro renewables.
200
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Distribution reflects the
general level of maturity of
the segment, and regional
resource potential.
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In addition, significant no of
companies ‘poised for action’
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185
Significant diversification
potential from the existing
industrial base.
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Vast majority micro SMEs
(< 10 employees).
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Relatively few high profile
corporates, especially OEMs.
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No activity in large scale solar
PV, fuel cells or hydrogen.
Number of companies
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
119
85
61
55
50
22
17
14
12
6
3
2
0
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15. Regional Strengths
Resources and Geography
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Significant availability of natural
resources: wind and marine – up to a
quarter of the offshore turbines
(2,500) fall within 150 nautical miles of
Belfast. Also significant oil and gas
reserves.
Mild and wet climate – uniquely placed
for biomass production (including
‘value added’ products); highest yields
in Europe. Strong knowledge-base
amongst farmers.
Well educated population.
Strategic positioning – ‘bridgehead’
between Ireland and rest of UK (able
to access natural resources,
complementary know-how and end
user markets).
Expertise/know-how in operating
within ‘Island of Ireland’ and a Single
Electricity Market.
Infrastructure
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Devolved administration has flexibility
to develop bespoke regional policy.
Unique infrastructure relative to rest
of Europe: highly dispersed and
constrained grid infrastructure, under
developed gas network, significant off
grid, fuel poor population, and aging
housing stock.
‘The island of Ireland is effectively a
live laboratory of Smart Grid
evolution’.
Highest deployment of wind in the
world for a non interconnected
region; recent announcements for
offshore concessions will provide an
additional focal point.
Excellent digital infrastructure.
Depth of expertise in
community/farm scale projects, in
particular biomass.
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16. Regional Strengths
Academic Base
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Academic excellence at QUB and UU
in specific areas of:
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Marine – early demo (Seagen is
world’s largest generating tidal
device); impact assessment;
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Micro-renewables – adv. heat pumps;
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Good international connectivity.
Leading know-how on use of SCR
Willow for biomass at AFBI; and
development of alternative feedstock
for AD at SWC.
Strong applied
research/demonstration and skills
provision via the regional colleges.
Proven successful industrial
collaboration via InnoTech model.
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Energy infrastructure – power
stabilisation;
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Energy Efficiency – adv. glazing;
pcms;
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Industrial Capability
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Nascent, and well connected, wind
supply chains with cross over know-how
and expertise of relevance to other
segments such as Marine & Bioenergy.
Proven capability around technology
adaptation, demonstration and system
integration – track record of importing
and adapting technology.
Diversification potential within
manufacturing and engineering base –
precision engineering and metal
fabrication, machining of components,
power take off, prototype manufacture.
Important anchor industrial players
including DONG (big success in
attracting into the region), Bombardier,
Glen Dimplex, Kingspan, Copeland,
McLaughlin & Harvey, FG Wilson & WIS.
Key infrastructure assets.
Can do/will do culture amongst the
rural workforce.
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17. Forward Implementation Plan
2018
2013
• Secure
resources &
launch.
• Identify
priorities for
‘quick wins’.
• Put in place
detailed plans.
• Gather
intelligence to
underpin plans.
• Identify and
select options
for next
generation
projects, and
‘value adds’ to
existing
projects
• Exploit related
commercial
opportunities.
• Active drive for
commercial
exploitation and
export of proven
solutions.
• Scale up and
increased
sophistication of
commercial
demonstrations.
2023
• Scale up of
supply chains
and
manufacture
of solutions
for export
markets
• Leading
international
reference site
and exporter
of Intelligent
Energy
Systems and
professional
services.
CORE
Integrated
Sustainable
Energy Reference
Site
Business
Plan
Integrated
Buildings
Reference Site
Feasibility studies
for large scale
integrated projects
Commercial demonstration of fully
integrated and inter connected
network
Scale Up/Next Generation Commercial Reference Sites
Map out potential
prototyping
/manufacturing
capability
Develop related
Service Offerings,
e.g. O&M and Call
Centres
Develop commercial
models for export
markets
Develop logistical capability for volume export markets
ENABLING
Detailed 3 Year
Delivery Plan
Review Delivery
Plan
Develop Market
Intelligence and ‘warm up’
early export markets
Review Delivery
Plan
Review Delivery
Plan
Broaden scope of market intelligence and
relationships with additional export markets
Review and Revise Innovation and Skills Provision (Capacity Building)
Build Global Networks
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