As renewable energy gains a greater share in the energy mix and demand becomes increasingly pro-active, power systems and their mode of operation are under pressure to evolve. The FP7-funded EVOLVDSO project has been exploring what shape these new roles might take under different future scenarios.
Based on this research, the EVOLVDSO team is developing the tools needed by the DSOs of the future, taking into account factors such as changing penetration levels for distributed renewable energy sources (DRES), degrees of technological progress, and customer acceptance patterns. Speaking at EU Sustainable Energy Week in June, Helena Gerard from project partner VITO explained that the research had already defined one new role, four evolving roles and three extended roles for DSOs.
The new role, Distribution Constraints Market Operator, comprises activities currently carried out by the transmission system operators (TSOs) such as contracting and activating flexibilities. An example of an evolving role, as defined by EVOLVDSO, is the Smart Meter Operator which takes on the roll-out, maintenance and decommissioning of smart grid infrastructure.
“The future DSO model will be an interactive one with interplay between the different roles and interaction with the authorities and regulators,” Gerard said, adding that the new model brings new challenges for DSOs and questions for the regulator: for example, the current regulatory framework does not allow for DSOs to contract flexibility.
The future scenarios already defined by the team will be used in initial simulations and in a real life demonstration and testing of the selected tools and methods. This will be followed by impact assessments and proposals for a regulatory framework and market structure. Finally, ahead of project completion in December 2016, the team will deliver recommendations for mass deployment and wider dissemination solutions.
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