This study presents an overview of the results obtained during the first year of the SmartNet project, which aims at comparing possible architectures for optimised interaction between transmission system operator (TSOs) and distribution system operator (DSOs), including exchange of information for monitoring as well as acquisition of ancillary services (reserve and balancing, voltage regulation, congestion management), both for local needs and for the entire power system. The results concerning TSO-DSO coordination schemes, market design and information and communication technology (ICT) architectures are shown along with the layout of the three technological pilot projects.Additionally, this paper provides insight on the three physical pilots.
Five TSO-DSO coordination schemesThe need for increased cooperation between TSOs and DSOs is widely recognised by regulators [1,2]. Within SmartNet, five 24th International Conference & Exhibition on Electricity Distribution (CIRED)
The continuously growing distributed generation and the business potential for demand response are gradually enabling significant provision of flexibility and reserve towards distribution networks. For this reason, transmission and distribution system operators need to coordinate their operation in order to develop efficient market arrangements that can help utilize all the resources capable of providing ancillary services. SmartNet project investigated the potential interaction schemes between network operators, together with the possible new services devoted to the optimal distribution grid management. This paper summarizes the main challenges in simulating complex electricity systems and flexibility markets for three European countries (Italy, Denmark and Spain) in 2030 scenarios. The simulation results are then analyzed using cost-benefit analysis and regulatory conclusions are deduced.
The necessary energy transition to decarbonize power systems is leading to increasingly important challenges for the operation of power systems. On the one hand, the intermittent nature of renewable generation requires system operators to procure ancillary services in larger volumes than in the past. On the other, the growing penetration of medium-and small-scale, flexible demand and storage systems in distribution networks could potentially offer network services, if they are aggregated effectively and there is an appropriate coordination between transmission system operators (TSOs), distribution system operators (DSOs) and aggregators. Therefore, an important topic to be analysed is whether distributed energy resources (DER) can replace traditional generation in the provision of ancillary services (AS), how this replacement will affect the system operators' roles and how to improve the coordination between TSOs and DSOs. This paper shows the results of the cost-benefit analysis (CBA) performed within the project SmartNet to assess the advantages or disadvantages of different TSO-DSO coordination schemes, as well as the follow-up activities to be carried out in the project CoordiNet.
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