From Da to Smartgrids – Evolution or Revolution? a Path to Improve the Utility Efficiency

According to the conclusions of the study “Smart Portugal 2020”, the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can contribute to a reduction of 15% in our ecological footprint. The role of innovation and the early adoption of solutions that could reduce consumption in all economical sectors will be vital to the 20/20/20 European Strategy [1]. Active network management for generation, storage and demand is one of the basis for the SmartGrid concept, where the actions of all agents connected to the electricity system (generators, consumers and Prosumers) can be intelligently integrated aiming for a sustainable, efficient and secure energy supply system [2]. The implementation of this type of system requires an intelligent control and a management system based on advanced communication and monitoring solutions, as well as on self-healing and pre-fault detection technologies. SmartGrids are, therefore, the most efficient approach to integrate Distributed Generation (DG) and renewable energy sources in a coordinated way with demand management in a sustainable system. This paper describes EDP approach to the EnergyCom infrastructure, with improvement of Quality of Service (QoS) and operational efficiency as main target, and presents the importance of SmartGrids as an answer to the challenges of the Electric Energy Distribution, and its role in the corporate strategy. The 3-phase implementation program of the 3rd generation electric grid in EDP Distribuição is also presented. TELECONTROL AND AUTOMATION STRATEGY IN EDP Over the last 20 years [3] [4], EDP’s strategy for its distribution grid was prompted by a permanent search for efficiency, focused on the Operational Expenditure (OPEX) reduction and QoS improvement, leveraged by an integrated policy of development and implementation of Substation Automation Systems (SAS) and Medium Voltage (MV) network Distribution Automation (DA). Figure 1 – EDP Telecontrol and Automation Strategy Path In the 80s, the main business driver was a reduction of the operation cost, which led to a strategy of substation telecontrol to reduce OPEX. This strategy improved over the 80s and 90s, when a concern for QoS improvement led to a program of SAS, while keeping the reduction trend of OPEX by substituting the man-power by Remote Terminal Units (RTU). The number of persons that until then would control locally one substation could now control remotely 20 to 40 substations. In the beginning of 2000, a new set of business drivers emerged: (i) Decrease the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) by standardizing Substation design; (ii) Reduce OPEX through engineering; and (iii) Maintenance cost reduction. During these years another important program fundamental to QoS improvement was developed, the DA project, which installed more than 2000 MV pole mounted remote controlled RTUs with simple automatisms, as well as small distribution substation (MV/LV) RTUs. Following a 74% improvement of the MV TIEPI (Time Interruption Equivalent Power Installed) in the last 7 years, its evolution shows a stabilization trend which evidenced the saturation of the strategy, not compatible with corporate goals demanding a continuous improvement of QoS. The increasing number of MV RTUs does not assure, by itself, a better QoS. The choice of their location in the grid must be carefully analysed to be effective. Additionally, a high number of remote controlled devices without automation Main Business Drivers Time-Scale operation cost reduction QoS improvement 80’s 90’s Substation automation ICT Strategy operation cost reduction 80’s Substation telecontrol CAPEX reduction engineering cost reduction maintenance cost reduction 2000 Operation cost reduction Further QoS improvement 2006-2007 Standard substation design + MV control project Substation design review + Distribution Automation project QoS DER & Micro generation New services Trans-european market Ageing assets Capex Constraints 2008 2012 Inovgrid + 20th International Conference on Electricity Distribution Prague, 8-11 June 2009