1. SAIEE Smart Grid Conference 2016 A Review of Smart Network Solutions for South Africa Dr Charlotte Higgins Kumbuyani Chisoro TNEI Services Limited

2. Expert consultancy advice to accelerate the development and integration of low carbon energy sources Network master planning using traditional and innovative techniques whilst meeting security standards and grid codes Techno-economic expertise and software solutions to support the deployment of smart networks Advice on technical strategy and regulation to businesses, governments and regulators in the electricity industry TNEI is a specialist international energy and environmental consultancy delivering industry leading services

3. Future challenges facing distribution networks across Africa Network operators need a range of innovative techniques to cost- effectively manage changing network behaviour whilst reducing significant capital expenditure or the risk of asset stranding Reproduced from IEA Africa Energy Outlook, 2014 Increase in Off-grid systems Commercial/mining/agriculture/industry

4. What is a “smart” network solution? New technology, operating or commercial arrangements that can be used by a network operator to defer or avoid traditional network reinforcement Generally provides incremental capacity headroom at lower cost/kW capacity and with greater flexibility Some solutions are relatively plug-and-play e.g. dynamic thermal ratings, voltage control Some require a more fundamental change e.g. active network management - standardisation of communication protocols

5. Active Network Management Defined as “using flexible network customers autonomously and in real-time to increase the utilisation of network assets without breaching operational limits, thereby reducing the need for reinforcement, speeding up connections and reducing costs” Generation, demand and energy storage managed in a holistic way. Customer only curtailed under infrequent network loading, voltage, transient conditions Could be deployed in South Africa to cost-effectively manage both large scale and small scale/commercial (>1MW) generation and demand in constrained areas of the network Reproduced from Orkney Active Network Management system Technical Session 1 Accessing capacity in a constrained network – Active Network Management, 2013

6. Active Network Management Scheme architecture can be centralised, decentralised or hybrid but all require some monitoring of the network and at customer locations Principles of access are based on either a Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) or pro-rata basis. Challenges: – Communications (IEC 61850) – Interaction with network balancing – Security standards (NRS047) Case Studies: NINES Low Carbon London Flexible Plug and Play

7. Real time thermal ratings Correlation between wind farm generation output and the wind cooling effect for overhead lines During periods of high wind generation, overhead line cooling will also be increased, allowing higher currents If a circuit is constrained by wind generation, real time thermal ratings may be a potential solution to increase capacity Also some dependency on ambient temperature, wind direction and solar irradiance (IEC TR61597 and CIGRE WG22.12 thermal models) RTTR system could be linked with ANM scheme

8. Real time thermal ratings Case Study: SP Energy Networks, Implementation of Real-Time Thermal Ratings – 132kV OHL circuit, 10 weather stations – Average uplifts ranged from 1.24 to 1.55 times the static summer rating – RTTR system developed and deployed in control room with NMS Reproduced from Implementation of Real-Time Thermal Ratings Project Final Closeout Report, October 2013

9. Energy storage Growing need for modularised, low cost energy storage that can be rapidly deployed at distribution voltages. This can provide: – Smoothing renewable output, – Peak demand lopping, – Management of thermal and voltage constraints, – Voltage and frequency support Wide range of technologies available: Li-ion, Va-Redox, compressed air, hydro etc. Cost of energy storage is forecast to reduce significantly

10. Energy storage Case study: UK Power Networks - Smarter Network Storage 6MW/10MWh Li-ion battery in the UK Learning outcomes on network integration – Electrical and Civil Design (module size, housing etc) – Technology and Supplier Selection – SCADA, control system Generic investment model developed to explore economic viability – Network operator owned – 3 rd party owned/contracted – Revenue streams (arbitrage, ancillary/constraint services, network losses)

11. Distribution Network Voltage control Increasing distributed generation and demand growth on distribution network LV feeder voltage profile changes – drift range increases Cost-effective, controllable technologies required to enable (automated) voltage control Benefits for increased network voltage control include; – reinforcement savings – reduced customer energy usage (CVR) – improved network reliability – increased connection of distributed generation

12. Distribution Network Voltage control Case study: Electricity North West - Smart Street New controllable switching devices (Weezap) at link boxes allows LV network dynamic reconfiguration either locally or remotely from Control Room LV capacitor banks on LV feeders (ABB) On-load tap changing distribution transformers – operate via an AVC relay Optimisation software (Siemens Spectrum Power 5) allows configuration commands via NMS

13. Conclusions Innovative smart network solutions increasingly available to defer or avoid traditional network reinforcement Many of these solutions now commercially available, ready for rollout Understanding technical applicability/feasibility and value proposition in a South African context is key!

14. Thankyou Any questions Charlotte.Higgins@tnei.co.uk Kumbuyani.Chisoro@tnei.co.za