Energy Consultant (FLEXIS)

Tender description

Local Authorities (LAs) are key enablers for accelerating the delivery of net zero. They combine decarbonisation considerations into their core service delivery and community engagement with wider work on housing, transport, waste, planning, regeneration and inward investment. In this way, they can facilitate an equitable and just transition that meets the needs of their communities, constituents, businesses and industry. FLEXIS has a particular focus on enabling local authorities to adopt latest innovations in energy research. Neath Port Talbot (NPT) is one such LA, and the FLEXIS Demonstration Area has become an integral part of their strategy for accelerating decarbonisation and digital agendas whilst driving just, sustainable growth for their constituents. To support the development of a world leading new energy system demonstration capability, the FLEXIS programme is developing a ‘Living Energy Data Platform’. This will be designed to help transform the energy sector by curating and providing access to the rich data set from diverse sources across the range of energy-related activities within the FLEXIS demonstration area. It is currently being developed through a series of ‘sprint projects’. EA Technology worked with WPD and NPT Council to deploy VisNet devices on two secondary sub-stations feeding separate NPT schools. The data from these devices is now being used to develop monitoring and analysis tools by researchers and industry that support operational improvements and enable a more detailed understanding of energy system use within schools and other operational buildings within the Council’s public estate. This will consequently assist the delivery of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and the move towards net zero. It is proposed to expand this data collection to more sub-stations across the electricity distribution network within NPT. Working with WPD, higher fidelity data monitoring will be used in conjunction with existing smart meter data and data from primary sub-stations to build situational awareness of local energy system, e.g. a better understanding of local network performance and constraints. The appointed individual consultant will bring together the different stakeholders in this project to enable the concept of an Advanced Energy Data Monitoring Solution to be adapted for NPT and to enable its benefits, opportunities, to various sectors. The individual will create an effective interface between academic, commercial, and public sector partners, supported by their knowledge of the role of R&D within a broader innovation context, and their previous involvement in the acquisition, analysis, and use of data in practical energy systems. The project will involve close collaboration with local government, industry, regulatory bodies, local authorities, academic institutions, and other partners to ensure the objective of local decarbonisation is achieved.