Distributed energy resources (DER), such as photovoltaic systems, electric vehicles and small-scale storage are becoming more affordable each year for the final consumer and, in particular, for the residential market. This democratization of electricity generation brings with it a disruptive change in demand, where the customer goes from being a consumer to a prosumer, that is, that consumes but also produces electricity. The benefits are multiple, greater independence from the electricity grid for prosumers (improving resilience and reducing their electricity bills) and at the country level to leverage the transition to a less polluting economy (distributed renewable generation and electrification of transport). However, the massive incorporation of DER also brings with it major challenges for the operation of electricity networks , in particular, at the distribution level, which were not designed considering these technologies. While in the past a “fit and forget” type design with minimal monitoring and control was enough, the massive integration of DERs challenges the network operator to ensure regulatory and safe supply quality levels, avoiding voltages out of acceptable ranges and backlogs in feeders and transformers. In response to this need, the concept of active operation of intelligent distribution networks was born.
In this webinar, Luis Gutierrez illustrates the technical problems of the massive integration of DER into distribution networks, possible solutions and the role of users. There is also an introduction to some smart grid pilot programs in the world and a discussion about how the distribution sector in Chile should be prepared.
Watch this webinar in the folling link: