With the dramatic change that's happening behind the meter, how are distribution networks working to ensure fair and reliable connectivity? How will existing network infrastructure handle the mass uptake of PV solar and electric vehicles without augmentation or tripping inverters. How can DNSPs be enablers instead of just saying "No"?
It's safe to say that the uptake of rooftop solar over the last two decades has far exceeded the expectation of everybody in terms o f the rate of adoption and the fall in installed price per kW (see the graphs by Ramez Naam).
This sudden rush of generation behind the meter has caught most electricity networks by surprise, and the reactive fixes throughout the network to handle this have been wide-ranging. And now, once again, we're all watching the early adoption of electric vehicles and all wondering what this will mean for the network. Many have posited that these "portable energy storage devices" maybe part of the solution - offering a way to move energy both in place and time through vehicle to grid (V2G). However, that technology is still ni its early stages and lacks standardisation. For the moment, the biggest focus seems to be around the risk of mass uncontrolled charging across the network - think of the TV ad break kettle rush but worse!
For both scenarios, monitoring and control is a core part of the answer. Having clear visibility of the state of the network is critical for knowing where the problems are already occurring (and how badly), as well as understanding where emerging issues may be hiding. Enabling more control of the amassed resources provides protection (through careful granular load or generation curtailment) and an opportunity to coordinate the network to make the best use of these resources and stop seeing them as a threat.
There are many challenges with such a proposal: having the ability to communicate across the distribution network is seen as a significant roadblock, and it is exacerbated by the lack of standardisation of third-party hardware such as EV chargers and PV inverters. Dynamic Ratings' ConnectGrid platform is one example of a Smart Infrastructure Solution designed to help bridge these gaps and transform from a static distribution network that sits largely in the dark to the connected and controllable active network of the future. These platforms enable this through:
• Flexible, low-cost communication options such as olT cellular, AMI mesh networks, LoRAWAN and even low earth orbit satellite,
• Open protocols and customisable connectors to connect with almost any other system for data exchange,
• An ecosystem of sensors, gateways, and technology partners to light the dark parts of the grid,
• Scalable and easy-to-use automation, visualisation, and analytics engines to take control of the network.
As utilities struggle with the challenges ahead and gain experience with smart infrastructure solutions like the example described, new projects are looking to replace traditional technologies with newer, smarter alternatives. Whether replacing traditional ripple load control with intelligent two-way demand controllers (enabling a real-time view of planned and executed load control) or issuing direct control to partially curtail solar generation, we're finally seeing the positive impact of these connective technologies.
This is further enhanced by the plug-and-play nature of third-party software vendors producing unique network analytic packages to solve specific problems. Such packages cover concepts such as service conductor condition (for damaged neutrals) or embedded generation hosting capacity (for computer-aided connection agreements). These
platforms are designed in a similar plug-and-play manner to leverage any data that can be connected. It's clear that these technologies are building out the dynamic capacity of the network to stretch into the future and not crumble under the growing duties the simple distribution network is increasingly being called on to provide.
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