From forecast to solution – evaluating innovative approaches to uncertain future grid challenges

Abstract:
Municipal electricity distribution network operators face many unique challenges in the near and mid-term future. The main drivers are the historical justified starting position, the competitive and internal demographic environment and upcoming demand-side technologies. Due to these challenges, decisions on grid asset planning, management and operation have to be taken under uncertain assumptions about the available technologies, power demand and standardization and can face long realization and impact timeframes. In combination with fast evolving customer-side technologies, this leads to an increasing importance of forecasting and agile solution development. Furthermore the evaluation of different solutions becomes more complex, when traditional reinforcement is compared to operational alternatives.