Accelerating Renewable Connections through Coupling Demand and Distributed Generation

The objective of this paper is to investigate the options for using local demand to accelerate the connection of renewable Distributed Generation (DG) capacity. It presents a range of architectures for operating Distributed Energy Systems (DESs) that contain local demand and distributed generation. The concept of a DES is that demand is supplied by local DG either using privately owned distribution assets or a public distribution network owned by a Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Operation of a DES can help manage variability in DG output, reduce curtailment in Active Network Management (ANM) schemes, and assist the DNO in managing network constraints. They also provide a move towards local trading of electricity with potential financial and non-financial benefits to both distributed generators and local demand customers.