Transmission & distribution |
Digitalisation and DSOs: increasing complexity is the mother of invention
The increasing decentralisation of the distribution grid and the transition to an all-electric future for homes, businesses and cars present new challenges for distribution system operators (DSOs) in managing and balancing the grid. Out of this necessity comes the need for invention, with digitalisation evolving to help solve the problem of asset visibility on the network
Andrea Rota global business developer at ABB’s Distribution Solutions Division
Distribution system operators are facing a perfect storm of challenges, including integration of renewables and distributed energy resources, energy production and consumption volatility and the ever-more- urgent drive towards decarbonisation. Grids are already under unprecedented strain due to the rapid influx of renewable energy, and as net zero targets for energy generation draw closer, this is only going to intensify.
The United States government has set out a target of 80% renewable power generation by 2030 and 100% carbon-free electricity five years later. Meanwhile, the EU recently raised its binding renewable energy target for 2030 to a minimum of 42.5%, up from the previous 32%, and included industry in the Renewable Energy Directive, which is set to lead to a massive scaling-up of renewable energy across power generation, industry, buildings and transport. But it’s not just businesses that are changing the way they produce and consume energy. Today, anyone, industrial or residential, can be a power producer. More consumers are embracing renewable energy sources such as PV panels to both reduce their carbon footprint and cut energy costs at home, as well as linking up more elements of their lives to the grid, from electric vehicles to heat pumps.
As more renewables enter the grid, electrical distribution infrastructure is undergoing a massive – and rapid – transformation. We are no longer working with a centralised power plant generating electricity 24-7, which means we must think about managing and balancing the network in a different way.
Out of this increasingly complex situation comes the need for invention. Digital technologies, such as sensors linked to sophisticated monitoring and analytics software, have become a must for the DSOs responsible for distributing energy from a wider range of sources to homes and businesses. By providing real-time information on how assets are performing, these digital tools play an important role in keeping the grid functioning and maintaining continuity of supply, even while the existing system is being stretched to its limits.
Above: Grid monitoring and fault localisation is a key area of expertise for ABB and Zaphiro Technologies with the goal of providing accurate visibility of grid status, real-time detection, and precise localisation of any type of grid faults. SynchroGuard, shown here schematically, in yellow, is the first grid monitoring and automation system, based on patented D-PMU (Distribution-Phasor Measurement Unit) technology, which leverages high-speed and time-synchronised measurements (source of image Zaphiro Technologies)
Making the switch to digitalisation The first step for DSOs is to consider upgrading their hardware, such as switchgear, which is a critical enabling factor for the energy transition as it can allow remote monitoring and control of the grid.
With additional digital capabilities, the ability to feed data into analytics software gives DSOs a clear picture of how their assets are performing across the network. This allows them to make better decisions as to how to manage and maintain them, ensuring greener energy is transported to homes and businesses as smoothly as possible.
Through continuous monitoring equipment, any anomalies in performance can be highlighted very quickly and optimal decisions can be made. For instance, maintenance can be scheduled before potential downtime occurs, ensuring continuity of supply, or fault localisation and restoration in a much shorter timeframe.
26 | October 2023|
www.modernpowersystems.com
Grid monitoring and fault localisation
Grid monitoring and fault localisation are key areas of expertise for ABB, exemplified by our investment in and collaboration with Zaphiro Technologies.
Zaphiro is a young Swiss company that offers grid monitoring solutions utilising phasor measurement technology. Zaphiro’s technology helps DSOs to continuously monitor their assets remotely by providing accurate visibility of grid status, real-time detection, and precise localisation of any type of grid faults. Use of phasor measurements allows Zaphiro to build an effective intelligent system requiring only a limited number of measuring points in key nodes of the network, enabling fast deployment, easy scalability, and, most importantly, low total cost of ownership coupled with high-performance.
Moreover, Zaphiro’s algorithms can precisely localise where the fault might occur in the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55
