Boston SPA energy efficiency trial - a novel method to implement conservation voltage reduction

The Boston Spa Energy Efficiency Trial (BEET) uses smart meter voltage measurements to control the 11kV system voltage at two 33/11kV (primary) substations supplying circa 15,000 customers in Yorkshire, Great Britain. The voltage on the low voltage (LV) network is normally operated towards the high end of statutory limits (216.2 – 253.0V) in order to account for the voltage drop on the network under winter peak demand conditions and/or during network outages. By taking voltage measurements from smart meters located at LV customers’ points of supply it is possible to regulate the 11kV system voltage in near real time in order to lower customers’ LV supply voltage. The key benefits are conservation voltage reduction (CVR) and providing the opportunity to connect additional demand and generation without going beyond statutory limits. BEET provides a novel way to implement CVR without the need for capital expenditure on 11kV/LV on-load tap changing transformers or LV voltage regulators. It also provides immediate bill reductions and carbon savings to customers whether they have a smart meter installed or not. BEET provides new learning on the retrieval and use of smart meter voltage data in real-time.