Objective
High voltage power transformers have a life of ~40 years. The majority of transformers in the power distribution network in Europe were installed in the 1960's and 70's. These transformers are reaching the end of their life. Deregulation of the power industry, while benefiting consumers, has led to power companies becoming profit driven. Competition has led to lower energy prices, which have led to reduce capital investment. The lack of money available has resulted in reduced maintenance activities, which have resulted in the recently witnessed increases in occurrences of power blackouts in Europe and North America.
There is a quantifiable need to extend the life and improve the reliability of existing high voltage transformer networks thereby satisfying the European directive for ensuring the security of power supply, the desire for power utilities to maximise the financial return on their assets and improving the quality of life for society. Our solution will provide high voltage transformer operators with an innovative product to manage transformer oil/insulation monitoring and treatment, which is the most influential factor in extending the life of transformers.
This proposal represents an opportunity for a large community of SME's across Europe to benefit from the deregulated European power industry by providing a fully featured innovative product currently unavailable in a 1200 million European marketplace. This industry has traditionally been dominated by large enterprises but by adapting a range of technologies from complementary SME sectors we believe we have the partnership strength and capability, that with the assistance from specialist research and development providers through Framework 6, we can provide an innovative solution to transformer insulation management at an attractive cost to the power distribution companies. We will generate an extra 72 million in revenue creating 666 jobs and providing technology transfer to the wider SME community.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power distribution
- engineering and technologychemical engineeringseparation technologies
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
Call for proposal
FP6-2002-SME-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Cooperative - SMEs-Co-operative research contractsCoordinator
LISBURN, NORTHERN IRELAND
United Kingdom