The Future Power System Architecture (FPSA) project has explored the functional requirements for the whole UK power system that will be needed by 2030 to respond to a likely transformation in consumer needs, the way in which electricity supply and demand are balanced, and the potential electrification of much of the energy currently delivered to the point of end use as oil and gas fuels.

The FPSA project was commissioned by DECC (UK Governments Department of Energy and Climate Change) and undertaken through a collaboration between the IET and the Energy Systems Catapult. It identified 35 new and enhanced functions that will be required to make the future, low carbon, power system work in the face of transformative change and used these as the basis of its findings and recommendations. PSC participated in this project on a volunteer basis and was able to contribute two key points into the project. Point one relates to the opportunities presented by new VSC HVDC interconnectors to contribute to the national Black Start capability. The FPSA Project agreed that this is one of a number of possible areas of development and should be a consideration of the future function to manage Black Start capability. Point two refers to the development of market structures for the trading of electricity at a local level.

The FPSA Project agreed that the future functionality needs to allow for such developments whatever their basis or complexity, and has included this flexibility in its assessment of future functions. PSC also provided a peer review of the international aspects of the project report utilising its knowledge of changes taking place within the electricity industry in North America and the Asia Pacific regions that were relevant to the UK. The official launch of the FPSA recommendations will take place on the 20th July 2016 at the IET, Savoy Place in London.