Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE
Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE

iDistributedPV – Photovoltaics in the Distribution Grid

Smart Grid Solutions for Decentralized Electricity Generation with Photovoltaics, Electric Storage and Demand Controls

Duration: September 2017 - February 2020
Contracting Authority/ Sponsors: EU, H2020
Project Partners: Asociación de Empresas de Energías Renovables (APPA), Institute of Power Engineering (IEN), Enea Operator Sp. z o.o. (EnOp), ExideTechnologies (Exide), Kostal Solar Electric Iberia, S.L. (Kostal), Deloitte Advisory, S.L. (Deloitte), Institute of Communication and Computer Systems - National Technical University of Athens (ICCS -NTUA), Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator S.Α (HEDNO), Lietuvos energetikos institutas (LEI), Renerga UAB (Renerga), Novareckon S.R.L. (Novareckon)
Website: http://www.idistributedpv.eu/
Project Focus:

The goal of the EU project “iDistributedPV” is to develop integrated, viable solutions for decentralized photovoltaic systems that are economically viable, secure and successful within the existing market conditions and also lead to increased market entry. The concept of a “prosumer", a person that generates and consumes (at least partly) the electricity generated in his or her own surroundings, shall be further developed. The technologies include photovoltaic arrays, storage, inverters and intelligent electricity meters and consumers.

Together with research institutes, grid operators and technology providers from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Lithuania, we develop approaches for integrating the various technologies which will benefit the energy system. The solutions are customized to fit the market criteria of the five different European countries. Here the balance of electricity supply and demand, provision of system services and energy, flow of income, operation management and communications standards are considered.

Solutions are developed based on the different boundary conditions derived from market surveys and analyses and then analyzed using an agreed evaluation method containing the following criteria:

  • Technical criteria such as the effect on the system voltage, voltage behavior, possibility of provision of services for the system, etc.
  • Economic criteria such as the cost of the solutions, the income and expenditures for system and system operator
  • Implementation of the solutions e.g. consideration of the hurdles in the legal, regulatory and technical boundary conditions for decentralized PV systems

A selection of meaningful system solutions will be evaluated and validated in five different distribution grids in Spain, Germany, Greece, Poland and Lithuania.

The distribution grids differ in their climatic, regulatory and technical boundary conditions.  In the economic analysis, the solutions are evaluated and business models are created. A particular focus is the economic model for distribution grid operators. These actors play a large role in supporting the expansion of decentralized PV systems.  Recommendations for incentive schemes are being developed in the project so that the distribution grid operators are not opponents, but rather supporters, for decentralized PV.