UKPN begins first British trial of pole-mounted EcoVAR™ low voltage control solution

UK Power Networks is trialling pole-mounted EcoVAR™ Static Compensator units from Fundamentals’ Australia-based technical partner EcoJoule Energy, to evaluate their ability to stabilise low voltages at end-of-grid locations.

The trial, at five UKPN sites, marks the first UK deployment of the devices, which are widely used by Australia’s network operators to address the impacts of rapid rooftop solar growth.

 EcoVAR™ units use power electronics and intelligent control software to stabilise voltage at the edges of the grid, improving power quality and reducing the need for costly grid upgrades.

“Maintaining stable voltage across local networks has increasingly become a critical challenge, as electricity demand becomes more dynamic, driven by electric vehicles, rooftop solar and heat pumps,” said Fundamentals CEO Dr Jon Hiscock.

Proven edge-of-grid solutions

“Working with UK Power Networks to deploy EcoJoule’s proven solutions gives us a real opportunity to show how intelligent control can make our grids more resilient, efficient and ready for a low-carbon future.”

The EcoVAR™ Static Compensator is part of Fundamentals’ Total Voltage Control concept: a portfolio of technologies that enable a coordinated, whole system solution to help network operators manage voltage dynamically across both high- and low-voltage systems.

EcoJoule Energy was established nearly a decade ago in Australia to develop solutions which would help electricity distributors integrate renewable energy and manage grid reliability. Its products include the EcoVAR™ voltage regulation system and the EcoSTORE™ community energy storage platform. Both are designed to reduce the need for expensive network augmentations and enhance power quality for consumers.