Designing Active Operation in Low-Voltage Distribution Grids: Requirements, Interfaces and Roadmap

TL;DR

This paper proposes a structured pathway for implementing active operation in low-voltage distribution grids, emphasizing measurement, communication, and market integration to enhance grid management.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive roadmap and system overview for active low-voltage grid operation based on regulation, technical requirements, and research priorities.

Findings

Identifies key pillars for active low-voltage operation

Develops a structured system overview of actors and data flows

Proposes a four-phase roadmap for implementation

Abstract

This paper outlines a pathway towards active operation of lowvoltage distribution grids. In these grids, the growing deployment of distributed generation, controllable demand and storage, together with the roll-out of intelligent metering systems, creates new requirements and opportunities for distribution system operators. On the basis of the German and European regulation, and in particular of recent directives enabling grid-oriented interventions and market-based procurement of flexibility, the paper identifies three key pillars for active low-voltage operation: (a) measurement placement and observability, (b) secure and interoperable information and communication architectures and interfaces, and (c) integration of market-based and gridoriented optimisation for controlling connected assets. A structured system overview is developed that specifies main actors and data flows, highlighting central research topics across these pillars. Building on this, a four-phase roadmap is presented, spanning requirements and use-case definition, method development and simulation, laboratory and field validation, and roll-out with system-level feedback, thus providing guidance for distribution system operators and researchers.