2020/4/20 Project Details Print Screen https://www.eng.strath.ac.uk/intranet/studentprojects/project-details-print.aspx?id=3584 1/1 Class Codes EE986 MSc Assignment Topics High Voltage Technologies Power Systems Condition Monitoring Energy Markets Areas Energy Systems Activities Research Dissertation Project 3584 – Distribution System Operator: Technical Challenges and Opportunities Project Type: Group Maximum Number of Students in Group: 4 Maximum Number of Groups: 1 Project Description Power distribution networks are currently undergoing a once in a generation transformation. Traditionally, distribution networks had no observability and power flowed from large generation plant to be consumed by customers in this ‘last mile’. Now, and even more so in future, those customers can be generators themselves and the large generators that once supplied them have been supplanted by embedded low carbon technologies. This scenario has left power systems in a position where they are servicing smaller demands at a regional or national level but face abrupt changes in the face of weather and group changes in local load behaviour. This calls for a balancing of supply and demand at lower levels of the network and the entity that will facilitate this new arrangement is the Distribution System Operator (DSO). This project will entail researching the responsibilities of the DSO, the services they will provide and the relationship with existing power system players such as Transmission Operators, generators and large commercial customers. The technical enablers for these services will be discussed and the potential challenges posed by maturity of technology and inherent system complexity should be identified. Key Objectives Understand the concept of the Distribution System Operator, its remit and who it will work with in a future power system Identify the key enabling technologies for DSO Describe the challenges posed to DSO and the innovations that may be required to meet these Supervisor Harle, Dr David A (SENIOR TEACHING FELLOW – EEE)
