Approaches to the Integration and Management

of Distributed Energy Resources

Euan Davidson

Head of Power Systems

Smarter Grid Solutions

Introduction

♦ Challenges in Integrating Distributed Energy Resources

♦ Active Network Management

♦ Smarter Grid Solutions

♦ The story of Active Network Management in the UK

♦ … and beyond…

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4

Energiewende:• Changes to the generation mix…• Changes to demand…• Changes to infrastructure?

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Integrating Distributed Energy Resources

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TransmissionNetwork

DistributionNetwork

Technical constraints include:

♦ Voltage rise

♦ Thermal Constraints

♦ Voltage Step Change

Integrating Distributed Energy Resources

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TransmissionNetwork

DistributionNetwork

Active Network Management in the UK

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Active Network Management

Real-time control of DER, load

and the network to make best

use of distribution infrastructure

Smarter Grid Solutions

♦ Successful smart grids manage large numbers of distributed energy resources. The traditional operator-in-the-loop approach won’t cut it anymore. To resolve the grid challenges of a low carbon world, we need real-time, autonomous, deterministic control technology. That’s why we exist.

♦ Founded in 2008

♦ 7,000 sqft HQ in Glasgow with development and test infrastructure

♦ Offices in New York and London

♦ Over 50 engineers dedicated to the development and deployment of Active Network Management

♦ Over 10 years in development in collaboration with utility customers and one of Europe’s leading power systems universities (University of Strathclyde)

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What do we do

ProductsConsultancy, Analysis,

Tools and Training

Systems Integration and

Support

Active Network

Management Systems

• Strategic Consultancy

• Power systems analysis

• ANM system design

• Online capacity analysis

tool

• Desktop capacity analysis

tool

• ANM planning and

operational training

• Services to support the

deployment of Active

Network Management

• Ongoing support and

maintenance of

operational systems

Project Lifecycle

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Active Network Management

The Orkney Smart Grid

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Orkney Isles

• 70 islands with 20 inhabited

• ~1000 sq km and 21,000 inhabitants

• Winter peak demand of 31 MW

• Summer peak demand of 6 MW

• Installed background generation of 46 MW

• Annual average temperature 80C

• Industry mainly agricultural, fishing and tourism

…… and whisky

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Mainland .

South

Ronaldsay

BurrayHoy

Flotta

Shapinsay

Stronsay

Sanday

Eday

Westray

Rousay

Core

Zone 3

Zone 4

Zone 2a

Zone 2b

Scorradale

Load8 MW

Flotta26

Load1 MW

Shapinsay33

Load1 MW

Sanday32

FG1.5 MW

Sigurd3

FG4.2 MW

Thorfinn4

FG5 MW

Burgar Hill Wind8

FG7 MW

Billia Croo10

FG4 MW

Eday9

FG2.7 MW

Bu Farm1

FG7.5 MW

Spurness7

NNFG2.5 MW

Spurness II14

NNFG4.5 MW

Hammars Hill15

NNFG0.9 MW

Rousay16

NNFG0.9 MW

Stronsay17

NNFG0.9 MW

Shapinsay18

NNFG1.8 MW

Gallowhill19

NNFG0.9 MW

Ore20

NNFG0.9 MW

Hatston21

NNFG0.9 MW

Thorkell22

NNFG0.9 MW

Eday Wind23

NNFG0.9 MW

Dounby12

Load12.5 MW

Flotta Elf27

FG10.5 MW

Flotta5

Load4 MW

St Mary34

Load1 MW

Lyness29

FG2 MW

Westfield11

Load0.1 MW

North Hoy30

Load2x24MW MW

Kirkwall28

Load8 MW

Burgar Hill24

NNFG2.3 MW

Burgar Hill Ren.13

Load1 MW

Westray37

Load1 MW

Stronsay36

Load2x8 MW

Stronmness35

FG1 MW

Northfield2

Load1 MW

Rousay31

Load1 MW

Eday25

FG15 MW

Kirkwall6

Zone 1a

Zone 1

Zone 2

Traditional Power flow

Transmission Network

Reverse Power Flow

Challenge

SSEPD seeking cost effective alternative to grid upgrades to provide connections for renewable generators: network already at ‘full capacity’. Technical challenge is multiple thermal overloads on various overhead and subsea cables.

Solution

Non-firm actively managed grid connections for distributed generation using ANM

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Orkney – The Customer Experience

Generator

ID

Size

(MW)

Production Factor

after Curtailment

1 0.9 37.06%

2 2.3 47.70%

4 4.5 45.35%

5 0.9 37.22%

6 0.9 40.08%

7 0.9 40.77%

9 0.9 31.76%

10 0.9 34.03%

Customer website to see live status of ANM system ANM generation export after curtailment

http://anm.ssepd.co.uk/

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Delivered Benefits

Operational since November 2009Connected 24 MW of new renewable generation capacity to 33 kV grid previously considered to be full

103% of electricity demand met by renewables in 2013

Estimated saving of at least £30million

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Since 2009:

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TimelineR

esearc

h p

roje

ct

com

mences

Fie

ld tria

l o

f a

uto

no

mo

us

genera

tion c

ontr

ol

Com

pany f

ounded

UK

’s fir

st

fully

opera

tional

sm

art

grid –

Ork

ney R

PZ

Key r

ole

in D

G f

or

security

of

supply

, dem

an

d r

espon

se

and E

V inte

gra

tion

Fir

st

pro

ject

in m

ain

lan

d

Eu

rop

e

Blo

om

be

rg N

ew

Ene

rgy

Fin

ance P

ioneer,

secure

d

majo

r new

pro

jects

with U

K

Pow

er

Netw

ork

s a

nd S

SE

PD

and fir

st

manor

pro

ject

with

SP

Energ

y N

etw

ork

s

Fir

st

pro

jects

with

Weste

rn

Pow

er

Dis

trib

ution a

nd

Nort

hern

Pow

erg

rid

First

pro

jects

with

Co

n

Edis

on, S

outh

ern

Com

pany

and N

ort

hern

Ire

land

Ele

ctr

icity.

Launch o

f N

YC

offic

e. F

irst

fram

ew

ork

contr

act

win

for

AN

M r

oll-

ou

t

with S

SE

PD

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Glasgow . London . New York