All European power distribution networks face a rapidly changing pattern on the load side: wind farms, photovoltaic, electric vehicles charging stations and many other novel, active devices blossom all across their voltage levels (LV/MV/HV); prosumers become a reality thanks to new players implementing various demand side management technologies; local energy communities also demand new interfaces and data exchanges; etc.

Such evolutions cause new operation issues:

• Load patterns are more volatile, and anticipating, and coping with, network constraint requires more frequent and more accurate assessments;
• Anticipating (or coping with) network constraint also require quicker reaction ability;
• Quicker reaction ability would benefit from the automation of regular, but composite, reaction routines (e.g. load shifting)… provided that security and safety is preserved;
• Long LV lines experience not only low voltage constraints risks but also high voltage constraints where PV is connected;
• Load patterns become more diverse and phase unbalances become larger and more frequent on lower voltage levels;
• RES generation and more volatile power transits entail constraint risks in transformers feeding MV networks or on HV lines;
• Frequency control becomes also more challenging in island systems;
• Etc.

New flexibility means and control tools are required. Such new operation tools’ design and development can take advantage of smart meters and other IT devices, and in any case, demand interoperability and/or pluggability on the DSO’s systems.

In this respect, the SOGNO open-source platform (Service-based Open-source Grid automation platform for Network Operation – See https://www.lfenergy.org/projects/sogno/) is a promising first step and DiSST (“Distribution Standards & System Tools”) is CRESYM’s workstream hosting all actions complementing this EU effort[4] to address power distribution sector issues.

DiSST shall:

1. Identify and prioritise all DSO’s needs with respect to distribution networks’ (i) simulation, (ii) state and risk assessments, (iii) control & command;
2. Set up the development of opensource software bricks, all interoperable and pluggable in the SOGNO environment, in order to remedy one or more needs;
3. Use and develop the SOGNO community to achieve the earlier, gain momentum in the industry and possibly nudge other initiatives.

This workstream is presently being explored and set up.

Credits: the very nice picture is a compilation based on Aedrian, Dean Brierley, CHUTTERSNAP, Andres Siimon on Unsplash.