Supporting the Smart Grid – Providing Data to Distribution Network Operators
Network operators have important duties in terms of planning, building and operating networks. In future, network operators will need to respond to changing requirements as more distributed generation is connected, and as individual consumer load patterns change and become more diverse, through take-up of equipment such as heat pumps or electric vehicles.
Much of the data needed to run an efficient smart grid can be obtained at the sub-station level, but some house-by-house data might be useful also. This might include monitoring minimum and maximum voltages and floating neutral fault conditions.
We propose that a “DNO applet” could process energy data locally. If necessary, messages could be sent by this applet to the network operator. Only data essential for the correct operation of the grid would be sent; this woud not include privacy-sensitive half-hourly consumption records.