High Voltage and Low Voltage Infrastructure Delivery Supporting Smart Grid Innovation

5 Minute Read

Sector

Education

Services

Hard Services

Contract Type

Single Service

Key Criteria

Productivity

Region

Scotland

University of Strathclyde Glasgow logo featuring the university crest with symbols and University of Strathclyde Glasgow text in black on a white background.
A row of industrial electrical control panels with red and white doors stands outside a modern building, connected by metal conduits and cables, on a concrete platform.

Executive Summary

OCS, formerly FES FM and Support Services (“OCS”), provided the full installation of the High Voltage (HV) and Low Voltage (LV) electrical networks, along with the Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS), at the University of Strathclyde’s Power Networks Demonstration Centre (PNDC). The PNDC is a flagship collaboration accelerating the development and deployment of advanced power distribution technologies in the UK and internationally. 

Located in Cumbernauld, the PNDC is a £12.5 million collaboration between the University of Strathclyde, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Funding Council, and industry partners. OCS’ hard fm team installed the HV and LV distribution systems and the RTDS, enabling live simulation, grid interaction, and integration with SCADA systems. The infrastructure supports a wide range of test configurations and evolving technologies, all within a controlled, real-world environment.

  • An orange lightning bolt is centered inside a circular arrow, symbolizing energy, electricity, or renewable power.

    £12.5 Million

    Capital investment in research and demonstration

  • Tree Planting

    1st in Europe

    Full-scale smart grid test environment

  • A solid orange square with no text, patterns, or additional features.

    100%

    HV and LV infrastructure delivered to industry standards

  • A large, solid orange shape with rounded and irregular edges fills most of the image, partially bordered by a thick white frame and small black, dark gray, and white corner details.

    24/7

    Real-time simulation capability enabled by RTDS

  • Outdoor energy facility with electrical equipment, large cabinets, and exposed cables on racks, set on gravel grounds with utility poles and fencing in the background under a cloudy sky.
  • Large metal cable trays supported by concrete blocks run along a gravel path outdoors, with red and black cables inside. Overhead, there is a metal roof structure, and power poles are visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

The Brief

The PNDC project aimed to:

Deliver a flexible, future-ready HV and LV electrical network
Enable real-time simulation and safe integration of experimental technologies
Support collaborative research between academia and industry
Accelerate the deployment of smart grid and low-carbon technologies
A modern, angular building with bright orange and black exterior panels, large windows, and security cameras sits beside a curved road under a partly cloudy sky. Grass and a picnic table are in front.

The Outcome

The PNDC now serves as a critical platform for testing and validating smart grid innovations. It reduces the risk of national deployment, supports the integration of renewable energy and electrified transport, and strengthens the UK’s position in global energy innovation.

BEST Outcomes

  • We created a seamless, collaborative environment for researchers and engineers, enabling safe and efficient testing of new technologies.
  • Our expert teams delivered complex infrastructure on time and to specification, supporting continuous innovation and research.
  • We applied industry-leading standards in electrical design, safety, and integration, ensuring long-term reliability and adaptability.
  • The flexible network architecture and RTDS integration future-proof the facility, allowing it to evolve with emerging technologies.
  • The PNDC accelerates the UK’s energy transition, supports decarbonisation, and strengthens collaboration between academia and industry.
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    Real-Time Digital Simulator integrated for advanced modelling

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    Prroject milestones delivered on schedule

    • Smart Grid Readiness
    • Innovation Integration
    • Infrastructure Flexibility

    Project Performance Metrics

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