Deployment strategy of innovative grid technologies across European distribution systems

Innovative Grid Technologies (IGT) are a series of modern solutions currently being installed across all continents to enhance existing grid assets. They are cost effective alternative to new builds, deployed in a fraction of the time. More and more distribution operators tend to initiate pilot installations, as a results of cascading constraints into their own segments of the grids (RES connections, industrial or private electrification, etc.). The IGT toolbox dictates specific practices in terms of adoption and acceptance. New materials often face harsh initial opposition, while digital technologies might not be well understood nor mastered. Altogether, a newer innovative mindset has to make its way into use. This paper provides guidelines on how to identify and plan underlying opportunities permitted in one’s network. This requires a more holistic approach encompassing uniqueness of each IGT. The five different technologies (advanced conductors, digital twin platform, dynamic line rating, advanced (modular) power flow control and monitoring) are briefly presented with a clear focus on their benefits and risk management. Several examples of successful DSO deployment across Europe are also illustrated. Finally, as new standard developments are always slower than technologies deployment, different mechanism to assess the robustness of the IGT is proposed.