Customer-Utility Interface for 2030 - Identification of functionalities and applications

Rapport, 2015

Smart metering is considered to become a central part in distribution grid management in the future and will be able to provide a lot of new functions if they have the right specifications. Many DSOs are in the process of preparing for the next generation of Smart Meters (SMs) – which is referred to as the future customer-utility interface (CUI) and thereby needs to know the required specifications. This report is proposed to assist in this process by providing suggestions of research to establish minimum technical CUI specifications with regards to the different possible functionalities of CUI. To investigate the requirement of new functionalities, the report addresses how both the distribution system operator (DSOs) and customers could benefit from the new functionalities and what challenges the functionalities can meet. The project focused specifications for increasing the efficiency of grid management. Moreover, the report discuss functionalities required to enable customers’ participation in Demand Response (DR). The report is based on a literature review on functionalities requirement for the future CUI which satisfy the general requirement by the European Commission (EC) and Swedish Energy Market Inspectorate (EI) and at the same time will enhance the operation and planning practices of the DSOs, and promote more active customers. Based on how the grid may look like in 2030 in terms of electric power generations, loads and equipment of the grid and the expected changes in electricity demand but also other demands from the rest of the society is research issues selected and discussed. In the end the challenges are ranked and the risk of congesting due to higher covariant between loads and due to customer’s participation in different types of markets may be the most challenging is considered the most challenges in the nearby future for the distribution grid. There is therefore an urgent need to developing methods for more load forecasting and market modelling to understand where in the grid problem will appear before they actually happen. There are different methods on how to meet the congestions but more load modelling is needed to explore the potential of changes between different operation strategies. Finally there is also a need to develop a method to be able to compare the different method to find the most cost efficient way to solve each problem.