Benefits of Active Management of Distribution Networks with Distributed Generation

Electric power distribution systems are in a state of transition from traditional passive systems with unidirectional power flows from high to low voltages to active networks with multidirectional power flows. This change is driven primarily by the growing penetration of distributed generation of different technologies including new and renewable types. The process of change is likely to be painful for network utilities as it requires abandoning some well established, tried and tested methods of planning and operating their systems. In order for the change to be embraced by all stakeholders including regulators, utilities and customers there is need for the costs and benefits of active management to be quantified. This paper discusses the work that has been undertaken at the university of Manchester in this area focusing on the benefits of active management in the UK