Distributed Generation – Customer Perspectives Focus on LV to 33kV Connections sector (PV) James Hoare CEng MIET MEI BRE National Solar Centre - Associate Consultant LHW Partnership LLP - Owner 24 th September 2014 Part of the BRE Trust James Hoare CEng MIET MEI - Bio 32 years Engineering in Power System & Renewable Energy Sector (CEGB) (GEC) In Year 2000 - big decision to leave HV power sector to join the fledgling PV Industry (Ardenham Energy founder) 1
Year 2000 – UK PV Industry – Total PV Connected Capacity c1MWp – No FIT’s or ROC’s (nor in Germany) – A large project was typically 12kWp – G83 not in existence Largest UK PV programme at the time BP Solar Project Sunflower a 1098 kWp programme covering canopies on 76 UK petrol stations from 1996 to 2002 Year 2014 – UK PV Industry – Total PV Connected Capacity c5GWp (5000 MWp) – Circa 750,000 DNO grid connected Installations – A large project is now 50-60 MWp – At peak PV output in July is c12.5% of UK weekend early PM national demand (UK demand data - source gridwatch.templar.co.uk) 2
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Three examples of ✓✓✓✓✓ ✓✓✓✓✓ in Last year 1. Quote + 2. Innovation 3. All DNOs Technical Forum Three examples of ✓✓✓✓✓ ✓✓✓✓✓ in Last year 1. Quote + for New Connection Enquiries - Up to 3 options to be considered at a particular location - Estimate within 20 working days for each of the options_ - If you choose to progress for one of the options within 5 working days, your place in the queue 4
Three examples of ✓✓✓✓✓ ✓✓✓✓✓ in Last year 2. Innovation - Western Power Distribution have a strong focus on innovation in future power systems covering a very broad range from energy storage, fault current limitation , active network management, demand side response, voltage control. Three examples of ✓✓✓✓✓ ✓✓✓✓✓ in Last year 3. ENA Technical Forum The ENA facilitate a ¼ ly Technical Forum where DG connection issues are discussed and addressed and includes the sharing of best practice, a better understanding of technical constraints and the development of agreed solutions Participants - Hosted by ENA - Technical Representatives from all 6 DNOs - DG Industry Trade Association representation - National Grid - Industry technical representation 5
ENA Technical Forum Meeting minutes are published once approved on ENA web http://www.energynetworks.org - Technical Forum Advice to DG Customers - definitely worth viewing quarterly Located Here ENA Technical Forum – one very good link on ENA website DNO’s requirement and position on some key connection aspects LV HV EHV Comments ENW Full of really key & helpful NPG SPEN information for DG SSE Customers UKPN WPD • DNO circuit breaker to protect a • Composite Boards in customer installation Substations • Fixed line telephony for SCADA • Harmonic Analysis • HV Interface Box standards • Load Control Devices • Tee’d & looped Connections 6
DG Customer Concerns As installed Capacity grows the following areas are increasingly becoming more of a challenge to DG connectivity. Time to Connect In some areas connections not possible till 2020’s – this is a obvious concern of DG Customers Harmonic Compliance A growing issue, with additional cost implications especially for Inverter baser technology Thermal constraints, Fault Level, Voltage Rise All challenges of evolving networks to accommodate DG that was designed and built over 60 years for demand customers. Advice to DG Customers To echo previous presentation - Engage with DNO’s and give them feedback The surgeries and other initiative's are very good and there is the possibility for communication • Recent important Ofgem Consultation on I.C.E. Where every DNO fed back on 2013/13 DG performance – Each DNO spent time & resource preparing responses for review – yet only 2 Responses from DG Community as a whole 7
Advice to DG Customers To echo previous presentation - Engage with DNO’s and give them feedback • Current ENA Consultation on EREC G97 - Harmonic Compliance and will affect DG customers– Very important issue, and important for DG customers - almost no response - yet all TA’s communicated details of this consultation to members. Advice to DG Customers Gain an understanding of the cause & impact of the emerging connection constraint challenges. They may be technical but they are becoming increasingly important and in particular • Fault Currents • Harmonics And also the importance of • Electrical Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations (ESQCR) 8
Feedback for DECC & Ofgem Capacity Hoarding, Sterile Networks & Reinforcement There is a case example of a 250kW (£250k) Community project that wont progress as the network upgrade costs would be ££ several million as there is 75MW of consented but currently unused DG capacity on same network. , DNOs must enforce milestones for progression, & fairly redistribute relinquished capacity. Released capacity will be hugely helpful to industry as a major DG connection block is coming Thank You 9
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