The emergence of smart and flexible distribution systems

Abstract

Electricity networks are now more complex to manage as a consequence of the rapid development of renewable and distributed resources, as well as the emerging electrification of heat and transport. The ageing distribution networks are becoming less fit-for-purpose, triggering a need for the stakeholders involved to consider how to upgrade and adapt to the new market requirements. Smart technologies can provide more efficient asset utilisation and smart markets can facilitate aggregated small-scale participants to sell various flexibility services to the distribution network operators. Thus, existing planning assumptions are being challenged as conventional asset investment may not be the least cost solution, and may even be the most risky. This chapter reviews the approaches that distribution system operators (DSOs) can adopt to enable a greater volume of demand, generation, and storage to be connected in a smarter and more active setting, thereby meeting local network investment requirements in a more efficient way.