Future Deployment and Flexibility of Distributed Energy Resources in the Distribution Grids of Switzerland

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive, high-resolution database of distributed energy resources in Switzerland's distribution grids, supporting research on grid flexibility, resilience, and future energy planning.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed, scalable database with projections of flexibility capabilities for distributed energy resources up to 2050, filling data gaps for Swiss distribution grids.

Findings

Database covers over 2 million connection points.

Includes projections aligned with 2030, 2040, 2050 forecasts.

Supports diverse studies on grid management and policy.

Abstract

The decarbonization goals worldwide drive the energy transition of power distribution grids, which operate under increasingly volatile conditions and closer to their technical limits. In this context, localized operational data with high temporal and spatial resolution is essential for their effective planning and regulation. Nevertheless, information on grid-connected distributed energy resources, such as electric vehicles, photovoltaic systems, and heat pumps, is often fragmented, inconsistent, and unavailable. This work introduces a comprehensive database of distributed energy resources and non-controllable loads allocated in Switzerland's medium- and low-voltage distribution grid models, covering over 2 million points of connection. Remarkably, this data specifies the flexibility capabilities of the controllable devices, with a set of projections aligned with national forecasts for 2030, 2040, and 2050. The database supports studies on flexibility provision of distributed energy resources, distribution grid resilience, and national energy policy, among other topics. Importantly, its modular structure allows users to extract national- and local-scale information across medium- and low-voltage systems, enabling broad applicability across locations.