Grid Monitoring for Efficient Flexibility Provision in Distribution Grids

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how grid monitoring can enable local flexibility markets in distribution grids, reducing operational costs and enhancing security through real-world application on a Swiss MV network.

Contribution

It introduces a methodology linking grid monitoring to local flexibility markets, showing cost reductions and improved security in distribution grid operation.

Findings

Cost reduction in DSO operations

Improved voltage and flow management

Validation on real Swiss network

Abstract

The increased flexibility requirement needs a flexibility market at the distribution grid level operated by the distribution system operators (DSOs) to resolve challenges to ensure secure operation and, to integrate new renewable productions or loads in the grid. Therefore, the network visibility and monitoring are paramount to distribution network operation. This paper presents a methodology demonstrating the value distribution grid monitoring can bring for the realisation of a local flexibility market. This paper further illustrates the reduction of costs of operation of a DSO with the help of grid monitoring and local flexibility market while maintaining a secure and reliable operation. The methodology has been applied on a real 35 node MV network of a Swiss DSO with several GridEye measurement devices. The performance in terms of losses and voltage and flow violation costs is compared with sub-optimal operation without monitoring.