Abstract
The power system transition to smart grids brings challenges to electricity distribution network development since it involves several stakeholders and actors whose needs must be met to be successful for the electricity network upgrade. The technological challenges arise mainly from the various distributed energy resources (DERs) integration and use and network optimization and security. End-customers play a central role in future network operations. Understanding the network’s evolution through possible network operational scenarios could create a dedicated and reliable roadmap for the various stakeholders’ use. This paper presents a method to develop the evolving operational scenarios and related management schemes, including microgrid control functionalities, and analyzes the evolution of electricity distribution networks considering medium and low voltage grids. The analysis consists of the dynamic descriptions of network operations and the static illustrations of the relationships among classified actors. The method and analysis use an object-oriented and standardized software modeling language, the unified modeling language (UML). Operational descriptions for the four evolution phases of electricity distribution networks are defined and analyzed by Enterprise Architect, a UML tool. This analysis is followed by the active management architecture schemes with the microgrid control functionalities. The graphical models and analysis generated can be used for scenario building in roadmap development, real-time simulations, and management system development. The developed method, presented with high-level use cases (HL-UCs), can be further used to develop and analyze several parallel running control algorithms for DERs providing ancillary services (ASs) in the evolving electricity distribution networks.
Highlights
The European Union (EU) aims to be climate neutral by 2050, and this goal and the long-term strategy is the core part of the action plan called the Green Deal
This paper aims to demonstrate the development of the evolving operational scenarios and the related management schemes, including microgrid control functionalities
This paper focuses on the evolution of the electricity distribution networks in the Nordic countries; the analysis method and the results can be applied to the distribution networks elsewhere
Summary
The European Union (EU) aims to be climate neutral by 2050, and this goal and the long-term strategy is the core part of the action plan called the Green Deal. The climate and energy targets are set until 2030, including a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (at least 40% compared to 1990 level), an increase in the share of renewable energy (at least 32%), and improvement of energy efficiency (to be at least 32.5%). The European Commission (EC) proposes an updated Climate Target Plan 2030, where the GHG emissions reduction target is 55%. Future energy infrastructure must be developed to achieve the ambitious climate targets so that different energy vectors are interconnected to improve efficiency and security. The future power system or smart grids aim to reduce GHG emissions by using all forms of renewable energy resources (RESs), both central and distributed. Smart grids should be operated intelligently, securing safe and reliable electricity distribution, energy savings, efficient use of energy, and based on advanced energy markets. Utility companies, vendors, and customers face questions such as what type of role(s) they have in the future networks and which kinds of systems must fulfill their needs
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