Abstract Summary
The Dutch electricity distribution grid is facing grid congestions (i.e., when the utilisation of cables and transformers approach their design limits) due to the growing demand by massive electrification. This is becoming even more apparent in urban areas where public space is scarce. This is one of the reasons why distribution grid operators (DSO’s) cannot keep up with reinforcing their medium and low-voltage networks and are therefore severely limited in adding new connections to the grid. Therefore, smart control resolutions need to be found in order to mitigate these congestions until the distribution grid can eventually be reinforced.---Utilising flexible energy (flex) sources on the low voltage grid (~400 V, in neighbourhoods) could help resolve the congestions and give DSO’s the time to fortify their grid accordingly. Flex implies for instance, time shiftable energy consumption, storing energy in reservoirs, or curtailment of renewables. Before flex can be deployed, DSOs need to ascertain whether sufficient flex is available in a (sub)system to mitigate congestion appearing in that very part of the system.---This paper presents the framework on how the technically available flex of a system can be quantified for the use of mitigating grid congestions. A benchmarking system is proposed where models can be simulated in a co-simulation environment. The outcome of this study will provide both the problem owner (DSOs) and local stakeholders insights on how to extrapolate the findings resulting from the benchmark system to arche-type Dutch (urban) neighbourhoods in terms of their potential to provide flexibility services.
