Exploring the Trade-offs Between Incentives for Distributed Generation Developers and DNOs

Regulators are aiming to incentivize developers and Distribution Network Operators to connect distributed generation (DG) to improve network environmental performance and efficiency. A key question is whether these incentives will encourage both parties to connect DG. Here, multiobjective optimal power flow is used to simulate how the parties' incentives affect their choice of DG capacity within the limits of the existing network. Using current U.K. incentives as a basis, this paper explores the costs, benefits and tradeoffs associated with DG in terms of connection, losses and, in a simple fashion, network deferral. © 2007 IEEE

Impact of increased distributed generation on fault levels and the network equipment

Attention towards the development of Distributed Generation (DG) is globally high. UK's concentration is to use sustainable and renewable sources to generate electricity thereby protecting the environment from getting polluted. In this paper, Distributed Generation concept is explored regarding the types, sizes, ratings, locations and benefits. It is very important to connect the developed distributed generator to the distribution network to satisfy the demand but without developing any faults and causing damage to the existing switchgear. Legal contracts that are required to be signed in order to connect the DG to the network and proper Protection Review to be followed in suppressing the faults are also mentioned. To study the impact of increased DG on fault levels, simulation approach is adopted. ETAP 7.1.0 is used to build a case study network and the results obtained are analyzed based on which critical comparison is made. The network comprises of three wind farms, each consisting of six wind turbines and a small hydroelectric plant. Various scenarios are considered and the results obtained are clearly analyzed. Protection is provided for the circuit and Star Device coordination study is performed. © JES 2014

Overview of three-phase inverter topologies for distributed generation purposes

The increasing presence of single-phase distributed generators and unbalanced loads in the electric power system may lead to unbalance of the three phase voltages, resulting in increased losses and heating. Distribution network operators are seeking to install larger DG units (viz. $>5$kVA in Belgium) by means of three-phase connections instead of single-phase to reduce voltage unbalance. There are several possible topologies to connect the DG units to the three-phase distribution network. These topologies can be divided into three groups: the three-phase three-wire inverters, the three-phase four-wire inverters and the multilevel inverters. In this paper, an overview of the aforementioned topologies is given

An assessment of principles of access for wind generation curtailment in active network management schemes

The growth of wind generation embedded in distribution networks is leading to the development and implementation of Active Network Management (ANM) strategies. These aim to increase the capacity of Distributed Generation (DG) that can connect to a network. One such ANM strategy is generation curtailment where DG is given a non-firm connection under which the network can instruct a generator to reduce its output under specified conditions. Currently in the UK the Orkney distribution network operates a curtailment scheme for wind and other renewable generation [1]and a similar scheme is being developed for the Shetland Islands [2]. The main objective of this paper is to explore the options for Principles of Access (PoA) for curtailment of wind generation on distribution networks which employ ANM. The PoA define the commercial rules by which a DG unit obtains access to the distribution network and under an ANM curtailment scheme the PoA defines the curtailment instructions that would be sent to different DG units when network constraints occur. The scenarios studied in this paper are based on the Orkney distribution network

Assessment of strategies for ICT investments using European Structural and Investment Funds: reflections from experts and practical examples

DG Connect and DG JRC have been supporting MSs and regions in fostering the ICT dimension of planned investments under ESIF. As part of this activity, assistance has been given to seven EU regions. This paper provides a systematic summary of the experts’ findings and discusses critical issues pointed out in the expert reports and at an expert workshop.JRC.J.2-Knowledge for Growt

Supporting social innovation through visualisations of community interactions

Online communities that form through the introduction of sociotechnical platforms require significant effort to cultivate and sustain. Providing open, transparent information on community behaviour can motivate participation from community members themselves, while also providing platform administrators with detailed interaction dynamics. However, challenges arise in both understanding what information is conducive to engagement and sustainability, and then how best to represent this information to platform stakeholders. Towards a better understanding of these challenges, we present the design, implementation, and evaluation of a set of simple visualisations integrated into a Collective Awareness Platform for Social Innovation platform titled commonfare.net. We discuss the promise and challenge of bringing social innovation into the digital age, in terms of supporting sustained platform use and collective action, and how the introduction of community visualisations has been directed towards achieving this goal

The post-Brexit challenges for European media systems

Since the Brexit vote, EU media policy has a new sense of urgency. It remains to be seen if member states will be more prepared to deepen media policy convergence in an attempt to protect fundamental values and rights, but last week DG Justice held a joint colloquium with DG CONNECT, discussing current challenges to media pluralism and media freedom. This is an extract from Damian Tambini’s Keynote speech to the colloquium

Retrograde trafficking of β-dystroglycan from the plasma membrane to the nucleus

β-Dystroglycan (β-DG) is a transmembrane protein with critical roles in cell adhesion, cytoskeleton remodeling and nuclear architecture. This functional diversity is attributed to the ability of β-DG to target to, and conform specific protein assemblies at the plasma membrane (PM) and nuclear envelope (NE). Although a classical NLS and importin α/β mediated nuclear import pathway has already been described for β-DG, the intracellular trafficking route by which β-DG reaches the nucleus is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that β-DG undergoes retrograde intracellular trafficking from the PM to the nucleus via the endosome-ER network. Furthermore, we provided evidence indicating that the translocon complex Sec61 mediates the release of β-DG from the ER membrane, making it accessible for importins and nuclear import. Finally, we show that phosphorylation of β-DG at Tyr890 is a key stimulus for β-DG nuclear translocation. Collectively our data describe the retrograde intracellular trafficking route that β-DG follows from PM to the nucleus. This dual role for a cell adhesion receptor permits the cell to functionally connect the PM with the nucleus and represents to our knowledge the first example of a cell adhesion receptor exhibiting retrograde nuclear trafficking and having dual roles in PM and NE

The evolution of the dystroglycan complex, a major mediator of muscle integrity

Basement membrane (BM) extracellular matrices are crucial for the coordination of different tissue layers. A matrix adhesion receptor that is important for BM function and stability in many mammalian tissues is the dystroglycan (DG) complex. This comprises the non-covalently-associated extracellular α-DG, that interacts with laminin in the BM, and the transmembrane β-DG, that interacts principally with dystrophin to connect to the actin cytoskeleton. Mutations in dystrophin, DG, or several enzymes that glycosylate α-DG underlie severe forms of human muscular dystrophy. Nonwithstanding the pathophysiological importance of the DG complex and its fundamental interest as a non-integrin system of cell-ECM adhesion, the evolution of DG and its interacting proteins is not understood. We analysed the phylogenetic distribution of DG, its proximal binding partners and key processing enzymes in extant metazoan and relevant outgroups. We identify that DG originated after the divergence of ctenophores from porifera and eumetazoa. The C-terminal half of the DG core protein is highly-conserved, yet the N-terminal region, that includes the laminin-binding region, has undergone major lineage-specific divergences. Phylogenetic analysis based on the C-terminal IG2_MAT_NU region identified three distinct clades corresponding to deuterostomes, arthropods, and mollusks/early-diverging metazoans. Whereas the glycosyltransferases that modify α-DG are also present in choanoflagellates, the DG-binding proteins dystrophin and laminin originated at the base of the metazoa, and DG-associated sarcoglycan is restricted to cnidarians and bilaterians. These findings implicate extensive functional diversification of DG within invertebrate lineages and identify the laminin-DG-dystrophin axis as a conserved adhesion system that evolved subsequent to integrin-ECM adhesion, likely to enhance the functional complexity of cell-BM interactions in early metazoans

The cost of active network management schemes at distribution level

The growth of wind generation in distribution networks is leading to the development of Active Network Management (ANM) strategies. ANM systems aim to increase the capacity of renewable and distributed generation (DG) that can connect to the network. In addition to DG, ANM schemes can also include storage devices and Demand Side Management (DSM) strategies. Currently ANM schemes are mainly part of network research and development programmes, funded through network innovation schemes. In future, ANM schemes will need to cover the costs of establishing such a scheme through payments from the network owners and the users of the network. This paper discusses the current charging arrangements which account for network upgrades and the access arrangements for wind farms connecting to networks which are close to capacity. The Orkney ANM scheme is used as a case study, where the costs of the implemented ANM scheme are compared to conventional network upgrades. In order to run ANM as a ‘business as usual’ case, there must be a way in which to recover the costs incurred in implementing and operating an ANM scheme on the network. These costs could be recovered through Use of System (UoS) charging, and there is an opportunity for domestic customers participating in an ANM scheme (through Demand Side Management, for example) to further reduce electricity bills by providing ancillary services to the network. ANM may increase the cost of electricity for domestic customers, however this increase can be considered substantially less than the cost incurred for significant network upgrades