ENSIGN will play a crucial role in supporting the Future System Operator model proposed by BEIS and Ofgem, which aims to expand the remit of Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to include additional Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs), ensuring both continuity of supply and cost efficiency. The National Grid ESO’s Virtual Energy System (VES) is working on creating a Digital Twin (DT) for the national electricity/energy system, focusing on the transmission network. However, it has acknowledged that it cannot fully develop all necessary DT components to represent the entire energy system. ENSIGN is positioned to provide a comprehensive distribution-level DT, covering all connected loads, from individual rural homes to large, energy-intensive industrial clusters.
Distribution networks are central to the decarbonisation and resilience of the energy system. For operators like SPEN, the ability to predict and model the impact of various scenarios on future networks—across both short-term operational control and long-term investment planning—will unlock significant opportunities for cost reduction, risk mitigation, and avoidance. This will help delay unnecessary network reinforcement and accelerate the adoption of Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs).
Key research will focus on how different component technologies and vectors interact, influencing the electrical system as a whole. This research is vital not only for SPEN and its partners but also for the broader UK (and global) energy distribution sector. ENSIGN will address future challenges such as the rapid electrification of heat and transport, the growing adoption of renewable generation, energy storage technologies, hydrogen production, distribution, and storage, as well as the evolving role of gas in the energy mix.
A critical aspect of this initiative is the detailed understanding of how different energy vectors interact under various scenarios. This will tackle current gaps in observability, modelling, and simulation capabilities, enabling better planning, forecasting, and operational strategies for integrated energy systems. Additionally, ENSIGN will research solutions to challenges in software engineering, measurement, communication, data science, and system interfacing. By working with SPEN and other partners’ networks and real-world data, ENSIGN will ensure that its Digital Twin operates in parallel with actual systems, enabling more accurate and actionable insights for the future energy landscape.
