There has been an increasing trend of integrating photovoltaic power plants (PVs). One of the important challenges for distribution system operators is to evaluate the total installed power of a PV that a particular network can host (or PV hosting capacity) while keeping voltage and element constraints within required limits. The major drawback of the existing methods for calculating PV hosting capacity is that they use the same installed power of the PV systems for all simulated PVs, as these methods do not use external data sources about building roofs. As a consequence, this has a significant impact on the final accuracy of the results. This paper presents a probabilistic methodology for calculating the PV hosting capacity in low voltage (LV) networks. The main contribution of this paper is the improved modeling of PV generation using actual building roof data when calculating the PV hosting capacity, as every building is treated according to its actual solar potential. Monte Carlo simulations with incorporated stochastic consumption and PV generation models are utilized for load flow calculations of the actual LV network. The simulation results presented in this paper prove that the proposed methodology increases the accuracy of the final PV hosting capacity calculations.

This paper describes a model driven methodology in order to implement an interoperable communication architecture supporting TSO-DSO information exchange. The model driven methodology goes through Smart Grid Architecture Model interoperability layers and leverage international standards. The Use Case approach is utilized for identification of information exchange requirements, which are materialized through Business Objects gap analysis against existing standardized IEC CIM (Common Information Model) profiles. Determined set of standardized Business Objects can be implemented using several communication technologies. Some of these up-to-date technologies are provided by off the shelf solutions such as ECCo SP, a secure and scalable platform provided by ENTSO-E.

Abstract This paper investigates a virtual power plant (VPP) using the OpenADR 2.0b communication protocol to securely and reliably operate distributed energy resources (DERs) over public Internet infrastructure, providing ancillary services to the transmission system operator (TSO). VPP performance analysis was based on an experimental setup as well as a dynamic behavioural model and numerical simulations. The experimental setup consisted of battery stacks from automated guided vehicles at a harbour container terminal. Within this experimental study, we analysed data exchange utilising the OpenADR protocol over a four-week period between the VPP in Slovenia and the terminal management system in Germany by assessing the selected quality of service parameters – latency (round-trip time), packet loss, retransmissions, bandwidth, amount of traffic and message patterns. The impact of latency on performance of the VPP aggregating battery stacks with other DER types was investigated using numerical simulations. Load profiles for the selected DERs and communication channel models were derived from field measurements.

Abstract Virtual power plant (VPP) technology aggregates geographically distributed energy resources enabling the management of flexible capacity in the power network on a large scale while implementing local grid constrains. In the smart grid concept, electricity generation and consumption requires the efficient, reliable, and real-time coordination of demand and supply using modern information and communication technologies (ICTs). VPPs enable the inclusion of distributed energy resources into ancillary service provision, typically for load-frequency control. Ancillary services demand reliable communication systems for the exchange of relevant information. This chapter investigates the communication system architecture of VPPs, giving an overview of current communication technologies and communication protocols, which are illustrated with relevant information from selected pilot studies and real deployments. We focus on downstream communication between the VPP and distributed energy resources, and on upstream communication between the VPP, transmission system operator, distribution system operator, electricity market, and retailers. Monitoring quality of service (QoS) parameters enable insights into communication system performance and enable VPP optimization by selecting the most reliable resources for particular services.

This paper investigates error performance of the narrow-band (NB) power-line carrier (PLC) communication system from a distribution system operator (DSO) perspective, with measurement data collected in the rural 400 V distribution grid. The performance evaluation is founded on the three aspects: attenuation of the NB PLC channel, frequency of the signal to noise ratio (SNR) class occurrence detected in a receiver and bit error rate (BER) analysis. The true BER is estimated from the limited amount of collected data using error model based on Neyman type A contagious distribution, appropriate for communication channels with impulsive noise. Results confirmed that PRIME-based NB PLC deployments for smart metering applications are adequate in rural distribution grids, even in cases with high attenuation and articulated frequency variations in a PLC channel. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eie.24.1.20149

Recent advances in the development of wearable sensors and smartphones open up opportunities for executing computing operations on the devices instead of using them for streaming raw d ...

This article gives an overview of TSO-DSO data exchanges when face the challenges posed by distributed energy resources and flexibility services in the distribution grid. Roles of TSOs and DSOs in the coordinated power system architecture are explained and use cases for TSO-DSO data exchange are provided. ICT architecture that supports data exchange in the coordinated power system is presented, with commonly used protocols. Additionally, the application of Internet of Things architecture is presented as a technology enabler for TSO-DSO data exchange in the near future. This paper is based on the H2020 TDX-ASSIST (www.tdx-assist.eu) deliverable D1.1 “TSO-DSO state of the art”.

This paper derives a model of high-voltage overhead power line under fault conditions at low radio frequencies. The derived model is essential for design of communication systems to reliably transfer information over high voltage power lines. In addition, the model can also benefit advanced systems for power-line fault detection and classification exploiting the phenomenon of changed conditions on faulted power line, resulting in change of low radio frequency signal propagation. The methodology used in the paper is based on the multiconductor system analysis and propagation of electromagnetic waves over the power lines. The model for the high voltage power line under normal operation is validated using actual measurements obtained on 400 kV power line. The proposed model of faulted power lines extends the validated power-line model under normal operation. Simulation results are provided for typical power line faults and typical fault locations. Results clearly indicate sensitivity of power-line frequency response on different fault types.