Experiences gained from the monitoring of an LV network supplying a micro-CHP cluster

The Lovell-Partnerships housing development in Manchester, UK, is a new development of approximately 500 low-energy homes. Each house is equipped with a Whispergen micro-Combined Heat and Power (µCHP) generator of 1.1kW rating. The heating system of these homes is equipped with a thermal store, from which the house hot water and central heating is supplied. A consortium of the UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), as part of a collaborative research programme at EA Technology, has undertaken a project to monitor the low-voltage (LV) network supplying 54 of the homes. These 54 properties are supplied by a single feeder, on which three power quality monitors were installed; at the substation, middle point and end point of the feeder. These monitors provided the ability to analyse the power quality of the feeder over a period of a year. This trial is the subject of this paper.