Category: Active Network Management
Grid Requirement tackled
- Increasing complexity of system management at LV level due to high amount of DRES, new loads and the required management of LV flexibility installations (§14a EnWG) in Germany.
- The load flows are at times reversed and the grid operators have limited knowledge of the customer’s equipment behind the meter.
- Historically, grids were planned with virtually no observability or controllability at LV/MV level. Consequently, especially the observability of the LV grids and controllability of the MV grids is insufficient.
Approach & solution
- Digital secondary substations are enhanced with additional measurement devices and remote controllable MV switchgear, which is equipped with short-circuit and earth fault direction indicators. On the low-voltage side, the minimal version measures the low-voltage side of the transformer, whereas the full version also measures all outgoing low-voltage circuits.
- The measurement solutions are also available as a retrofit for already existing secondary substations.
- The roll-out of digital secondary substations is aligned with the future smart meter roll-out to allow state estimation for LV grids.
- All components and solutions are based on common standards across all E.ON DSOs to scale solutions quickly.
- Digital software solutions from Envelio enable grid observability through state estimation and identify grid congestions. In the future they will resolve congestions automatically based on available flexibilities.
- A new central data platform gathers all grid-related data, including the live data from digital secondary substations. Existing processes are adapted to incorporate new data, such as live measurements for improved grid operation or grid planning.
Benefits
- Benefits for the DSO: Integration of more DRES; more efficient grid operation (remote resupplying in case of outages, faster fault clearance etc.); improved maintenance and grid planning based on quality data.
- Benefits for the end-customer: enabler of flexibility products; EV, PV, battery and heat pump integration in LV grid for every household.
- Benefits for the market: enabler of flexibility products for customers and most efficient usage of existing grid assets.