RET_2015-01-02-03-04_Flipbook

Flexibility and demand: a distribution systems operator’s perspective - Joost Gottmer, EU affairs, EDSO for
Smart Grids
could provide services to the DSOs either under the umbrella of an aggregator or
individually. SMEs with a fleet of electric vehicles or who use electricity for thermal
control would be of particular interest due to thermal inertia.
Household customers who are directly connected to distribution grids, could be an
important source of flexibility for network operators. Whereas individual household
provision of flexibility is likely to have a low impact on grid management, household
customers could potentially contribute to a pool of flexibility through their supplier or
aggregator. An aggregated fleet of electric vehicles, heat pumps or air-conditioning are
examples of devices that could provide flexibility.
Customers’ participation in demand-side flexibility can depend on a number of factors:
technology availability, willingness to change behaviour or individual preferences. To
engage customers successfully, however, flexibility operators should offer clear price
signals, access to information as well as innovative tools and services that are easy to
use. Customers who wish to earn from their flexibility should also be able to freely
choose between all products available.
CONCLUSION
Flexibility can be a more-cost effective and socially-accepted alternative to conventional
grid reinforcement that will help DSOs’ networks to integrate variable RES and
distributed loads.
DSOs could make the most of their grid provided that they are allowed to use system
flexibility services. In a similar fashion, increasing flexibility in the electricity market
(when technically and economically appropriate) would result in a number of benefits
for DSOs, consumers (all grid users) and society as a whole. This, however, implies that
distribution networks are planned differently, incorporating new risk margins and
uncertainty, are not only managed as they used to be, but rather as networks with
enhanced observability, controllability and interactions with market stakeholders.
Revue E Tijdschrift – 131 ste jaargang/131 e année – n° 1-2-3-4-2015 (publication mars/publicatie maart 2017)
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