Usefulness of AMI data communication systems for the development of Polish DSO smart MV and LV grids with regard to SCADA control systems

摘要

Electricity market in Poland is faced with organizational and technological changes. More specifically, the third package of market directives issued by the European Union obligates Member States to assure consumers' access to information thus enabling them the practical management of their electricity consumption in a more efficient manner than it is currently the case. Introduced regulations relate to the need for installation of advanced metering and billing systems (Advanced Metering Infrastructure - AMI) by the Distribution System Operators (DSOs). The main AMI feature is the possibility of remote, two-way data transmission between electricity meters, installed at the premises of electricity consumers within the low voltage (LV) distribution network, and the Meter Data Management (MDM) system (AMI Central System). Therefore, the introduction of AMI systems in LV distribution networks, in addition to remote meter readings, will also allow EPUs (Electric Power Utilities) to consider a number of Smart Grid (SG) technical solutions which would extend and support present SCADA control systems employed at the MV and LV distribution levels. So far the LV distribution network area has not been adequately monitored while the control functions have not been used at all by DSOs in Poland. Thus, assuming the presence of the AMI system with its data communication infrastructure covering MV/LV substations and the area of LV network, the paper considers the following SG functions that may be supported by AMI and have relevant impact on DSO's SCADA range and functionality: LV network observability and monitoring of MV/LV substations, LV network control, direct load control as the means of national power system stability enhancement and support for the planning of MV and LV networks. The basis of the presented considerations is the integration of hardware communication solutions in MV/LV transformer substations. More specifically, the idea of using a wireless communication router connected both to the AMI data concentrator and to the SG remote control and monitoring unit in a common cabinet in the indoor MV/LV substations is introduced. This idea becomes more attractive if, in addition, the common uninterruptible power supply is applied. As a result this idea makes both AMI and SG solutions cheaper and simpler to manage by DSO.