Active distribution network — Demonstration project ADINE

Since Distributed Generation (DG) often involves renewable energy, it is important to facilitate integration of DG into existing networks. This is the aim of the EU FP6 demonstration project ADINE. It is based on the Active Network Management (ANM) concept, where automation, ICT and power electronics are used to integrate more DG by exploiting active resources instead of just reinforcing the network. The resources are mobilized through ancillary services or requirements. Five enabling solutions within ANM are pushed forward in the project: Protection relay and fault location applications, coordinated protection planning, voltage control with microturbine, centralized voltage control with SCADA/DMS and a new STATCOM. All these are demonstrated in real-life. Finally the performance of each technical solution during conditions with large amounts of DG are analyzed using a real-time simulation environment with RTDS/dSPACE. Introducing appropriate parts of the ANM concept will permit connection of more DG in distribution networks.