Powering Europe - European Wind Energy Association

mOreactIVeDIStrIbUtIONNetWOrkS
The amount of distributed (embedded) generation
(renewable energy technologies and CHP) is growing
rapidly at distribution level. Distribution networks
are less robust than transmission networks
and their reliability – because of their radial configuration
- decreases as the voltage level goes down.
Moreover, there is very little so-called “active” management
of distribution networks. Rather, they are
designed and configured on the basis of extreme
combinations of load and ambient temperatures,
(which reduce the capacity of overhead lines). The
addition of wind power to these networks creates
new loading situations, for example changed power
flow directions which affect the operation of network
control and protection equipment, and mean
design and operational practices need changing. A
very important issue here is the increased necessity
for active voltage management.
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Networks using new ICT technology and strategies for
active management are envisaged as a possible next
step from the current passive distribution networks
and offer the best way to initially facilitate DG in a
liberalised market. They are based on two broad principles,
namely (a) high connectivity providing multiple
links between supply and demand and (b) providing
interaction with the consumer or more generally, with
the grid users that both consume and produce electricity,
the so-called ‘prosumers’.
The co-ordinated, intelligent control and integration
of a DG grid is the subject of various experiments
carried out by the Danish TSO, Energinet.
The project called “the Cell Controller Pilot Project”
[Martensen, 2009] develops the controllers, data
acquisition, commands, and communication infrastructure
for a so-called pilot “Cell” consisting of
Powering Europe: wind energy and the electricity grid
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