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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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