Scientists at the Centre for Carbon Measurement at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have developed a 'metrology grade' digitizer system suitable for use in the field, which has been shortlisted for Best New Product in the Climate Week Awards.

Smart grids enable management of the flow of electricity around delivery networks such as the National Grid, enabling greater use of decentralised energy sources, including renewable installations, where power generation generally is more volatile. Real-time monitoring of power quality is essential for grids, in which renewables play a growing role.

Scientists at the Centre for Carbon Measurement have invented the briefcase-sized digitizer to enable these crucial measurements in the field. It is already being used to support improvements in power transmission across a new 255 km submarine cable between Sweden and Poland as well as wind turbine testing in Denmark.

Digitizers have become increasing useful for making alternating current (ac) measurements, particularly of ac power and power quality, which require access to multi-channel sampled data. A popular approach in ac metrology has been to use multiple, synchronised commercial sampling voltmeters or to develop integrated circuit based digitizer systems in order to make sample-based ac measurements.

Field measurements of power quality in the evolving Smart Grid presents a major challenge and requires the use of leading edge instruments like the digitizer. It allows measurement of power quality in the field with exceptional accuracy and is already being used across Europe, helping scientists assess the impact of renewable electricity on the Smart Grid and plan for ambitious energy transmission schemes.

The Climate Week Awards recognise the most inspirational and impressive actions taking place in every sector of society. They showcase projects and initiatives all across Britain - from government departments to community allotments, from large businesses to local faith groups, and are judged by an eminent panel. The Best New Product category features exciting new low-carbon products and services and NPL Digitizers is one of the four finalists.

Find out more about the Climate Week Awards

Find out more about NPL's work in Electromagnetics

Contact: Paul Wright