Shifting from reactive to proactive: How DSOs can better manage grid DER congestion

The European energy landscape is undergoing a shift at the moment, driven by the rapid integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar PV and electric vehicles (EVs). This transformation presents Distribution System Operators (DSOs) with significant challenges, particularly in managing grid congestion, ensuring reliability and regulatory obligations. Traditional reactive approaches, although cost efficient, are no longer sufficient due to the increase in renewables’ assets and its unpredictable nature; DSOs could consider adopting proactive, data-driven strategies to navigate this evolving environment. The urgency for efficient load shifting and grid management is evident, with DSOs like Enexis utilizing mobile apps for direct load shifting requests to end customers. Another example is companies like Octopus Energy developing advanced planning software that make the cut in the industry.

Addressing Grid Congestion and Enhancing Asset Health

One of the most pressing issues DSOs face is detecting and managing congestion in low voltage (LV) networks. The growing impact of DERs, coupled with limited sensor deployment, makes it difficult to maintain grid stability. However, the data already available through smart meters holds the key to proactive management. By utilizing an analysis of this data, DSOs can gain crucial insights into grid behavior, identify congestion hotspots, and predict potential issues before they arise. This enables them to adjust voltage regulation, optimize reactive power compensation, and prevent costly emergency measures. Furthermore, this data supports predictive maintenance strategies, allowing DSOs to identify equipment loading patterns, detect overloading risks, and schedule preventive maintenance, extending the lifespan of critical assets and reducing operational disruptions.

Streamlining Regulatory Compliance and Ensuring Transparency

In addition to managing grid operations, DSOs must also navigate increasing regulatory pressures such as regulations coming from Clean Energy Package and the EU Action Plan. These regulations force DSOs to implement actions towards modernizing the grid and their operations, and facilitate the energy transition. Another prerequisite is reporting obligations related to grid performance, DER integration and compliance with energy efficiency targets. Automating the processing of analysing the DERs with intelligence from smart meters simplifies compliance and reporting, reducing manual effort and ensuring adherence to EU energy regulations. Grid performance dashboards and standardized reports enhance transparency for regulators and policymakers, fostering trust and accountability.

The Solution: Leveraging Smart Meter Data with NET2GRID's Expertise

To address these challenges, solutions like NET2GRID's offer a powerful approach. By utilizing smart meter energy disaggregation, DSOs can detect and monitor hidden DER loads in the Low Voltage grid, gain a detailed understanding of household DER load patterns, and avoid costly substation sensing. This technology allows for the identification and location of congestion hotspots without deploying additional field equipment. Moreover, NET2GRID EnergyAI® maps aggregated load patterns to transformer capacity, detects overloading risks, predicts equipment failures, and enables automated alerts for preventive maintenance. This empowers DSOs to transition from reactive to proactive grid management, ensuring a reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy future for Europe.