“Inauguration of the 6th Framework Programme” 25-26 of November 2002. Warsaw

1. DISTRIBUTED GENERATION, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY. IMPACT ON POWER QUALITY AND NETWORK PLANNING “Inauguration of the 6th Framework Programme” 25-26 of November 2002. Warsaw Pablo Eguia Electrical Engineering Department University of the Basque Country

2. INTRODUCTION • Distributed Generation:power generation facilities connected to the distribution network. Main characteristics: • Geographically dispersed • Low installed capacity • Renewable energy sources as primary energy • Cogeneration and new technologies • Not centrally planned • Non-despatchable

3. INTRODUCTION • Huge increases expected: • White paper: 2010 12 % Total Energy Consumption by RES • 22 % Electricity by RES facilities • New technologies: microturbines, fuel cells,… Thousands of new facilities connected to electricity distribution networks ¿?

4. FOCUS • Our proposal focuses on the impact of distributed generation on the distribution network from an overall point of view: • power quality issues • operation and control issues • protection issues • regulatory framework issues • integrated solution for the problems imposed on the distribution network by the distributed generation • Sustainable Energy Supply System

5. OBJECTIVES AND APPROACH • Power Quality: • Impact depends on several factors: type of network, type of d.g. plant, demand in the network, etc • Research actions on: • Impact of distributed generation facilities on distribution network quality of supply • Impact of power quality disturbances on distributed generation facilities

6. OBJECTIVES AND APPROACH • Operation and control: • Actually d.g. facilities do not provide support services to the power system (voltage and frequency control) • Research actions on: • Forecasting primary energy availability and plant electricity output for different time horizons • Frequency and voltage control for the different types of distributed generation units • Integration of d.g. plant control system with the distribution network control system

7. OBJECTIVES AND APPROACH • Protection: • From a protection point of view d.g. facilities are different from actual power plants. New solution needed for: • Minimising the risk of damage to customers and the d.g. plant • Maintaining security of supply • Avoiding forced outages of unfaulted d.g. plant • Research actions on the dynamic response of the d.g. plant: • Dynamic models for the different d.g. facilities • Critical clearing times consistent with generator dynamic stability • Capacity of the d.g. plant to switchover to islanded operation • Etc.

8. OBJECTIVES AND APPROACH • Regulatory framework: • Actual regulatory frameworks are not prepared for high d.g. penetration into the distribution networks • Research actions on : • Connection requirements for distributed generation plants • Distribution activity remuneration scheme with incentives for new d.g. connection • Methodology for establishing distribution network tariffs and its allocation among customers (consumers and distributed generators) • Methodology for distribution losses evaluation and allocation • Quality of supply framework for the distribution network

9. NEED AND RELEVANCE • The research efforts stated are all focused to overcome the problems of integrating distributed generation facilities into distribution systems and into the operation of the power system • D.G. technologies comprise renewable and cogeneration. The research proposed will help to achieve: • Greenhouse gasses and pollutant emissions reduction objectives • Security of energy supply enhancement • Compete in terms of price with traditional technologies • Sustainable European Energy Supply System