Supporting DER customer participation in active distribution networks and local markets

The growth of distributed generation in the UK has led to the increase in the number of flexible distributed energy resource (DER) connections and services required at distribution level. In some parts of the UK, flexible connections are offered to distributed generators (DG) via the use of active network management (ANM) systems. In exchange for a cheaper, quicker connection to the network, DG may be subject to curtailment when the network is constrained. This study presents a virtual private wire (VPW) solution that can allow generation and demand within the same ANM system to be linked in association with specific network constraints. Smarter grid solutions developed a demonstration system in order to show the effect of a VPW arrangement in the Accelerating Renewable Connections (ARC) trial area of SP Energy Networks. This study draws conclusions on both commercial and technical issues as well as solutions for local network balancing introduced by the VPW concept. The future direction for control architectures required to support VPW and multiple other new DER management applications is also set out, along with the wider market and system implications of coordinated DER control and local system balancing.