Experiences from use of an LVDC system in public electricity distribution

Experiences from the field setup of utility grid low voltage DC (LVDC) distribution are discussed. LVDC distribution being a novel approach to public electricity distribution, a research platform is realised to enable practical studies. The goal of the setup is to combine the requirements of the fully functional LVDC system and a flexible research platform. The scope of the paper is to discuss experiences from first six months of continuous use of the setup. The paper focuses on comparing how expected and realised results meet and how the setup has been operating in real public network. On the other hand, design flaws and challenges are covered. Finally, future research tasks and the development of the setup towards LVDC smart grid are presented.