i-DE launched the ASTRA-CC project with the goal of improving network design for the energy transition, lowering market barriers for renewable and storage facilities and optimising cost sharing between DSOs and users. The project investigates the conditions for the creation of direct current networks, operatively equivalent to alternating current ones, but designed to facilitate simpler plug&play connections.
By researching new DC secondary substations and network architectures, ASTRA-CC aims to demonstrate how complementing AC designs with DC public networks can bring economic advantages for the connection of renewables and storage to the grid especially in the case of small facilities and rural areas.
By adopting the Analytics4Vegetation solution, E-REDES reduced the necessary personnel effort by 80% and generated around €1M/year savings thanks to the early detection of necessary vegetation-cutting actions. At the same time, the solution guarantees greater network safety and biodiversity protection.