Introduction: This project is in essence a feasibility study to verify the potential in pursuing an ENCE system. In order to answer the fundamental technical questions behind any future ENCE system, we have limited the scope of this project to a small subset of the GB network in the South West of England, nominally west of a line bounded by Hinckley Point and Lovedean 400kV substations. While the choice of this section of the network does not necessarily reflect the primary target of a demonstrator installation in the future, it is the most suited in terms of data availability and offers a relatively benign set of characteristics for the testing of new algorithms.

Objectives:

The principle objectives of the work will be as follows:

1. Verification that suitable algorithms exist to support the necessary prediction technologies.
    
2. Identification of suitable condition monitoring equipment which could be used at a demonstrator level
    
3. Ensure that any future ENCE system fits within existing control room operating protocols
    
4. Development of a risk register to highlight areas which require further Research or Development activity before deployment of an ENCE system could be considered.
    
5. Review the potential savings GB wide from the availability of an ENCE system in terms of constraints avoided

Expected Benefits:

1. Clear identification of the best technical approach to take in designing a demonstrator ENCE system

2. Development of a set of criteria to maximize benefit of an ENCE system to the GBSO

3. Identification of the proportion of existing constraints which are thermal, indicating possible future savings from an ENCE system./li>