IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2014 - 64

On top of improving the regulatory framework for DSOs, adequate
network codes should be approved at the European level.
activities, even though their specific legal obligations may
differ from member state to member state. Their innovation
activities cover the full value chain of activities performed by
system operators and can be grouped into five clusters plus a
joint activities area, as shown in Figure 9.
in the distribution area, the five clusters can be divided
into 13 functional objectives for the nine-year period covered by the road map, as shown in Figure 10.
The joint area between transmission and distribution
can be divided into five functional objectives, as shown
in Figure 11.
The budgets for these functional objectives involving distribution are shown in Table 1.

table 1. The budgets for functional objectives
involving distribution (in millions of euros).
Objective

Amount

Integration of smart customers

240

Integration of DERs and new users

330

Network operations

400

Network planning and asset management

100

Market design

Joint TSO-DSO R&I activities

250

table 2. The areas prioritized in the
2014-2016 DSO implementation plan.
2014

2015

2016:

TD2

Demand-side management DSO-TSO

D12

Asset management

D10

Smart metering data processing

TD5

Methodologies for scaling up and
replication

Integration of storage in network
management

Integration of small DERs

TD4

Defense and restoration plan

Energy efficiency with smart homes

LV monitoring and control

TD1

Increased DSO observability for enhanced
TSO management and control

Network management tools

MV automation and control

D13

Market design

ieee power & energy magazine

For the implementation of the roadmap, three-year implementation plans are defined. The prioritized areas in the
2014-2016 dso implementation plan are shown in Table 2.
definitions of the functional objective, the implementation plan, and further information can be found online at
http://www.gridplus.eu/eegi.

Conclusions
implementing smart grids is central to the transition to a
low-carbon economy, and dsos are key players in this
transition. A far-reaching change-one could say a revolution-in power systems is indeed ongoing; designing and
implementing smart grids is not an option but an absolute
necessity. if we do not do it, or if we do it too slowly, we will
face major problems.
To prepare, european dsos are massively investing in
r&d and demonstration projects in cooperation with the
information communications technology (icT) industry,
acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to adapt and lead.
smart grids have the potential to benefit the whole value
chain, but the market model must be defined. Whatever the
preferred model, dsos will have a key role to play as market
enablers. dsos will be responsible for setting up the playing
field for retailers and aggregators so that it works for the benefit of customers. dsos will increasingly act as local system
operators. Well-organized active distribution system management will make it possible to reduce the investments needed to
host renewable energy sources and electric vehicle charging
stations and will guarantee security and quality of supply.
enhancing the "smartness" of distribution grids is not free
of charge. it will require significant capex on the dso side,
while the benefits from those investments will accrue throughout the entire value chain. The development of business models, with the strong support of policy makers and regulators, is
necessary to ensure that all parties share the risks, costs, and
benefits of smart grids. bringing smart grids from vision to
reality will only happen if smart regulation is introduced.
last but not least, a key objective of european dsos is to
make sure that the new solutions that will be implemented
are designed to benefit all customers.

Biographies
Pierre Mallet is with erdF in France.
Per-Olof Granström is with edso in belgium.
Per Hallberg is with Vattenfall in sweden.
Gunnar Lorenz is with eurelectric in belgium.
Pavla Mandatova is with eurelectric in belgium.
p&e
march/april 2014

http://www.gridplus.eu/eegi

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - March/April 2014