Key terms explained
The energy industry is a diverse and ever-changing field with its own set of specialised terms and abbreviations. Understanding these industry-specific terms is important for individuals working in or interested in the energy sector. Below, you will find a list of industry terms along with their explanations.
| Acronym | Term | Definition | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA | Confidence Assessment | Part of our LAEP Support Framework which looks to understand the likelihood of the local authority forecasts materialising. Local authority plans are assessed across three themes: Quality of Analysis, Governance and Deliverability, and by sector – Power, Heat and Transport. The process involves in-depth and frequent engagement with the local authorities and their LAEP practitioners (where applicable) to compile supporting evidence and documentation for the completion of the assessment. Forecasts that are assessed to be of high or medium confidence are included in UK Power Networks’ DFES to replace existing assumptions. This is done to enhance UK Power Networks’ forecasts using LAEP data and to influence capacity planning. | Link |
| CLEO | Collaborative Local Energy Optimisation | A collaborative project between UK Power Networks and local authorities. The project is tasked with developing a free self-service tool which provides a range of energy related datasets to support the Local Area Energy Planning process via a custom built online portal. This local area energy planning self-service tool will allow local authorities to layer local input such as decarbonisation strategies and action plans, local market trends, social inclusion policies and transport plans, amongst others, and over our existing network infrastructure to better plan development options for their communities. | Link |
| CPN | ChargePoint Navigator | ChargePoint Navigator is a free tool for local councils and their commercial partners, designed to simplify site selection, reduce costs, and accelerate electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure planning | Link |
| DD | Data Dictionary | The data dictionary is a document pack intended to guide you in preparing your Net Zero forecast data for submission to UK Power Networks. It contains documents such as a data dictionary questionnaire, template data documents, and definition files to help you compile data in the correct format. The pack also includes examples in Microsoft Excel format, which contains the detailed specification for the format of documents to be sent over. | Link |
| DER | Distributed Energy Resources | Small scale energy technologies that are connected to the grid, including rooftop solar panels, home batteries, electric cars, wind turbines, heat pumps, and battery storage. They typically have a low environmental impact and improve the security of supply. | Link |
| DFES | Distribution Future Energy Scenarios | The Distribution Future Energy Scenarios (DFES) outline the range of credible futures for the growth of the distribution network The DFES is an annual publication that creates a picture of how the energy system might look by 2050 against a range of Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs), like Electric Vehicles (EVs), solar and heating solutions. The DFES gives us an idea of when, where and how many LCTs will be connecting to our network under a range of assumptions. The result is four 'scenario worlds', each offering a different picture of the future. We use one of the 'scenario worlds' as our NDP central planning forecast that informs and shapes our investment plans to facilitate local decarbonisation. | Link |
| DNO | Distribution Network Operator | A DNO (Distribution Network Operator) is a company which operates the electricity distribution network which includes all parts of the network from 132kV down to 230V in England and Wales. In Scotland 132kV is considered to be a part of transmission rather than distribution so their operation is not included in the DNOs’ activities. | N/A |
| DNOA | Distribution Network Options Assessment | A framework designed to explore all options, including flexibility, to meet capacity needs and to deliver a reduction of up to £410 million in load-related expenditure. The DNOA suite of documents is published annually and provides transparency to the industry on the decisions we are making. In our DNOA process, we identify future capacity needs based on the latest predictions from our DFES. We then source all the viable options to resolve our system needs, compare them and make a recommendation for the optimal solution. | Link |
| DSO | Distribution System Operator | In the UK the Distribution System Operator (DSO) is responsible for facilitating Net Zero and establishing markets for flexibility to deliver best value solutions and make available network capacity at lower cost, whilst meeting the evolving needs of our customers. Outside the UK DSO is a generic term for organisations distributing energy. | N/A |
| ESO | Electricity System Operator | The Electricity System Operator (ESO) is responsible for the operation of the system and transmission network which includes the second-by-second balancing of electricity supply and demand. The ESO also plays a role in developing markets and provides stakeholder advice on network investments. The ESO has an important role to play in the UK’s transition to a decarbonised, decentralised and digitalised energy system. | Link |
| Flex | Flexibility | Flexibility is the capability of energy resources, such as generators, batteries and consumers, to change their behaviour. This behaviour change can help to reduce the pressure on the grid at certain times, such as during the evening (traditionally when demand for electricity is highest) or when very windy or sunny (when generation is highest). A good example would be charging an electric vehicle overnight rather than during evening peak | Link |
| GDN | Gas Distribution Network | A Gas Distribution Network is a gas transportation system covering a specific area which transports gas to industrial, commercial and domestic customers. GDNs are supplied with gas from the National Transmission System (NTS), though some GDNs may have their own Gas Entry Points. There are currently eight GDNs in the UK, which are made up of twelve local distribution zones, owned by four separate groups. | Link |
| HV | High Voltage | Refers to voltages at 20kV, 11kV and 6.6kV. | N/A |
| LA | Local Authority | Local authorities are public bodies that are responsible for the delivery of local government services in England, as specified in Local Government Act (2000). They are made up of elected councillors who make decisions concerning the provision of Local Services and Policy, including Planning and Development Control; Environmental Health; Housing; Waste Management; Transport; and Economic Development. This can also mean a County Council, Unitary Authority, or London Borough. | Link |
| LAEP | Local Area Energy Planning | A data driven and whole energy system, evidence-based approach that sets out to identify the most effective route for the local area to contribute towards meeting the national net zero target, as well as meeting its local net zero target. | Link |
| LAEP Practitioner | Local Area Energy Planning Practitioner | An organisation who works with local authorities providing data analysis and stakeholder engagement services. Typically contracted to support the development of a local decarbonisation strategy such as Local Area Energy Plan. For example this could be a consultancy, a social enterprise, or community energy group. | Link |
| LAEP+ | Local Area Energy Planning+ | A free digital tool allowing users to access powerful data, scenario modelling, and deployment tools to support your decarbonisation plans, all in one easy-to-use platform | Link |
| LCT | Low Carbon Technology | The collective term for technologies including: Heat pumps, Electric Vehicle (EV) Charge Points, Solar Photovoltaics (PV) and other forms of renewable Distributed Generation (DG) and Renewable Generation. See also: Heat pumps, Electric Vehicle (EV) Charge Points, Solar Photovoltaics (PV), Distributed Generation (DG). | Link |
| LTDS | Long Term Development Statement | The Long Term Development Statement (LTDS) provides information about the distribution systems owned and operated by UK Power Networks. The LTDS describes our network, its design and operation within the past year, and looks forward with a load forecast and network developments for the next five years. | Link |
| MA | Materiality Assessment | Part of our LAEP support framework which looks to understand if a local authorities forecast requires additional electrical demand than our existing assumptions. This looks at transport, heat, and power sectors individually. | Link |
| LV | Low Voltage | Refers to voltages up to 1000V AC (typically 400V 3-phase and 230V single-phase) and 1500V DC. | N/A |
| NDP | Network Development Plan | A Network Development Plan is a formal plan that a licensee (such as as Distributed Network Operator) makes publicly available to provide stakeholders with a transparent roadmap outlining how the licensee intends to develop the distribution network. NDPs will typically assess the suitability of the distribution network to meet current and projected customer demand using credible future energy scenarios and will identify sites that require intervention due to network constraints, assessing the options available to remedy the constraint. Network Development Plans typically cover a 3-5 year period. | Link |
| NSHR | Network Scenario Headroom Report | The Network Scenario Headroom Report indicates the amount of unused network capacity for demand and generation over time to 2050 on our Bulk Supply Point and Primary substations. It shows where we may need to further reinforce our substations or procure flexibility services beyond our existing plans, if the energy system develops as indicated in each of our scenarios. Since the report indicates unused substation capacity in each year, please note unused capacity may be contractually committed to customers. | Link |
| RESP | Regional Energy Strategic Plans | The Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) is a framework designed by the Network Energy System Operator (NESO) to facilitate the coordinated development of the energy system across multiple vectors. It aims to provide confidence in system requirements and enable network infrastructure investment ahead of need, ultimately supporting the transition to net zero in a cost-effective manner. | Link |
| SFS | Strategic Forecasting System | A system we use to determine the specific impact on our network of potential future uptake of low carbon technologies. It takes the “how many, where, and by when” of the DFES and converts into “How much electrical demand, on which substations, by when”. | N/A |
| N/A | Secondary Substation | Transformation sites supplied by a primary substation and convert voltages from High Voltage (HV) to Low Voltage (LV), typically transforming 11/6.6kV down to 240V in order to feed customers. | Link |
| N/A | Overhead Line | Overhead line is an electric line whose conductors are supported above ground, generally by means of insulators and appropriate supports. | N/A |
| N/A | Primary Substations | Primary substations are transformation and switching points from voltages below 132kV to supply the 20/11/6.6kV distribution network or customers. | Link |
| N/A | Common Ask Template | The Common Ask Template expands on our Data Dictionary by incorporating forecasts that will be utilised by the GDNs. This new template only needs to be filled out once by the local authority and shared with their local GDN and UK Power Networks DSO. | Link |
| N/A | LAEP Support Framework | A framework which allows our DFES to be updated with local forecast data. This ensures that local forecasts on the uptake of low carbon technologies are accounted for in our decision making when it comes to our network development plans. | Link |
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