IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - September/October 2016 - 26

figure 7. The partners of the evolvDSO consortium project. (Source: http://www.evolvdso.eu/, used with permission.)
✔ Controllability: indicators must be easily detectable

through controls that do not necessitate excessive costs
for the subjects or for AEEGSI.
These aspects were captured by the 2015 directive 646/2015/
R/el dealing with the regulation for the time frame 2016-2019.
It essentially recognizes as eligible for remuneration those
smart grid functions that aim to increase the observability of
the distribution networks and improve voltage regulation in
MV networks. These functions do not necessarily require low
latency communication with users, thereby creating a basic
infrastructure capable of ensuring broad interoperability. The
most critical areas with the highest penetration of renewables
and/or primary substations with reverse power flows during
more than 5% of a year are both eligible for these incentives.
Two levels of observability are considered that require the
DNO to be able to send real-time measurements (every 20 s):
1) energy production and 2) energy production plus estimates
of both generation and consumption. To be eligible for rewards,
the accuracy of estimates must be guaranteed on a monthly
basis. Voltage regulation is also rewarded considering two
levels of innovation: 1) the use of OLTCs to adopt an optimal
busbar voltage obtained by using information about the level
of energy production/consumption and the configuration of the
network and 2) local voltage regulation by producers according
to bands sent to a certain number of selected producers.
A register of improvements achieved with advanced
voltage regulation has to be prepared by the DNO. The
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corresponding rewards are calculated in a simple fashion.
However, at the moment, only the rewards for the first, easier-to-achieve level of observability and voltage regulation
have been established. The rewards for the implementation
of the most advanced levels have not been monetized yet.
AEEGSI is clearly making sure that DNOs are rewarded
for innovation to ensure the transition to more active roles.
However, as with other national regulatory authorities, this
is done considering the particular context and characteristics
of the distribution networks in the country.

The evolvDSO Project:
Defining the Future Roles of DNOs
Beyond the engineering questions, how should a DNO adjust
its functions to respond to a developing technical, regulatory,
and market landscape? These questions were the foundational theme of the ongoing EU FP7-funded consortium project, evolvDSO, that began in September 2013. This project
brings together a consortium of stakeholders from across the
EU, embracing DNOs, TSOs, research institutes, and new
market players (Figure 7). In all, 16 consortium members
from eight European countries are delivering this 40-month
project, which is set to wrap up in December 2016.
The project is focused on defining the future roles of
DNOs in their transition to DSOs. Various new software tools
were developed along with supporting methodologies to
allow DNOs to efficiently fulfil their evolving roles. Concepts
september/october 2016

http://www.evolvdso.eu/

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power & Energy Magazine - September/October 2016