Congestion management on LV networks by controlling customer assets using a HEMS (SIBELBox) developed by the Sibelga DSO

Sibelga has studied and tested different constrained flexibility methods enabling the Distribution System Operator (DSO) to use a curtailment mechanism to force any Low Voltage (LV) Distribution System User (DSU) equipped with a Smart meter (≤ 56 kVA) and located in a congested area to curtail their consumption or injection. Sibelga has developed a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) prototype (SIBELBox) capable of reading and interpreting data from the P1 port of Smart Meters and transmitting regulation instructions from the DSO to the DSU's installations (either via a Modbus output, or via 2 auxiliary contacts). The different methods differ in the way the curtailment command is sent to the SIBELBox in the event of local LV grid congestion (either via a reduction of the “power made available” of the DSU connections in the congested area, or via a curtailment command sent directly by Sibelga’s Control Center to the different concerned DSUs via an IEC 60870-5-104 / MQTT converter). This article describes the different methods studied and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, as well as the improvements required for large-scale deployment.