The decarbonisation of European energy system is driving a radical change in the way in which distribution grids are managed, from both operational and planning perspectives. The traditional grid investment models – of driving investments to meet all customers’ needs without congestion – is transitioning to one in which distribution network investments and stable grid operation are balanced against active congestion management, with DSOs deploying active system operation through the use of distributed energy resources (DER) connected to the grid. In this new context, the interface between the grid and distributed supply/demand end-users (“ the grid edge”) will become increasingly important to enhance the DSOs’ capacity to observe energy users and related impacts, grid monitoring to improve electrical flows forecast, long term and short-term planning so as near real-time operation.
If you want to know the real potential the grid edge represents for DSOs, read our paper.
