FNN Roadmap: From Network to System
2018-04-25

FNN Roadmap "From Network to System"

The rules today must be designed with foresight to ensure long-term secure grid operation with 80 percent renewable energies.

In a nutshell

  • Roadmap to further develop the power grid
  • 13 main topics with concrete FNN activities
  • Work already in full swing to commission new studies and update technical documents

The political goal is clear: the energy transition will completely transform Germany's energy supply. The share of renewable energies in the electricity supply is to rise to 80 % by 2050. Renewables should also make a greater contribution to meeting demand in the areas of heating and transport. This means that network operation is facing enormous challenges. Power grids are a long-lasting infrastructure forming the basis for a high security of electricity supply in Germany. To ensure this, the right course must be set today to overcome the challenges of tomorrow and beyond. With the right course of action, the network will develop into a functioning system with millions of actors and interfaces. The FNN Roadmap "From grid to system" describes concrete projects that VDE FNN will be working on in the next few years.

Contact

Downloads + Links
Downloads + Links: Results

Topics

Energy
Energy grids

Main topics and results

Minimum requirements and additional services in customer installations

The needs in network technology and network operation are changing with the energy transition. This drives the development of minimum technical requirements for generation and consumption plants forward. A distinction must be made between these minimum requirements and the so-called ancillary services i.e. increased requirements that may be necessary regionally or locally in particular grid situations.

The needs in network technology and network operation are changing with the energy transition. This drives the development of minimum technical requirements for generation and consumption plants forward. A distinction must be made between these minimum requirements and the so-called ancillary services i.e. increased requirements that may be necessary regionally or locally in particular grid situations.

FNN activities

  • FNN Position, “Minimum requirements and additional services in customer installations” (presented to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) in 2016)
  • Announcement from BMWi: Development of a system in which reactive power is provided to the required extent, in an economically efficient and, above all, transparent manner
  • VDE FNN supports the process on a technical basis

Time frame

  • 2017 – 2021

Result

  • Positioning and process support

Solidarity in the interconnected electricity system

Safe operation in the interconnected electrical system is based on the solidarity of the interconnected networks. Operators coordinate how the networks behave in the event of faults and to what extent they support each other. Network solidarity is and remains indispensable.

Safe operation in the interconnected electrical system is based on the solidarity of the interconnected networks. Operators coordinate how the networks behave in the event of faults and to what extent they support each other. Network solidarity is and remains indispensable.

FNN activities

  • Define and differentiate between separate and island networks
  • Publish FNN Info document with details and management of separate and island networks
  • Assess the need for consistent and comprehensive rules for the operation of separate and island networks

Time frame

  • 2017 – 2019

Result

  • Further development of technical regulation
Downloads

Smart Home: interface to the distribution grid

Other aspects of the network are relevant during grid usage to ensure safe system operation; for example at times of network constraints. To enable this capability, it is essential to have a connection between Smart Home and Smart Metering systems via an interface.

Other aspects of the network are relevant during grid usage to ensure safe system operation; for example at times of network constraints. To enable this capability, it is essential to have a connection between Smart Home and Smart Metering systems via an interface.

FNN activities

  • Stakeholder workshop, “Smart Home: interface to the distribution grid": definition of targets, discussion and opinion making on open questions
  • Definition of requirements and further development of technical regulation (focus on grid operation)

Time frame

  • 2018 – 2020

Result

  • Positioning and further development of technical regulation

Requirements for transparency of system states

The expected data volume must be identified in order to develop requirements for interfaces, actors and systems. The work of VDE FNN focuses on the tasks and process-related data exchange at the interfaces as well as the prioritization and description of the exchange processes.

The expected data volume must be identified in order to develop requirements for interfaces, actors and systems. The work of VDE FNN focuses on the tasks and process-related data exchange at the interfaces as well as the prioritization and description of the exchange processes.

Development of short-circuit power and voltage quality

Generators and motors are increasingly connecting to the grid via inverters, while the number of generators and drive units with direct connection to the grid is decreasing. This leads to an overall reduction in short-circuit power which can be the cause of greater system instability.

Generators and motors are increasingly connecting to the grid via inverters, while the number of generators and drive units with direct connection to the grid is decreasing. This leads to an overall reduction in short-circuit power which can be the cause of greater system instability.

FNN activities

  • Need for research on short-circuit power and harmonics: carry out a structured inventory with differentiation between voltage levels and identify technical requirements and transfer results into VDE-Application Rules
  • Need for research on unbalance: analyze and assess existing studies, perform an additional FNN study and transfer of results into VDE-Application Rules

Time frame

  • 2018 – 2020

Result

  • Studies
Downloads

Network control with power converters

To date, frequency and voltage quality is still based mainly on synchronous generators of large power plants. In the future, frequency and voltage quality will also need to be supported by renewable energy systems.

To date, frequency and voltage quality is still based mainly on synchronous generators of large power plants. In the future, frequency and voltage quality will also need to be supported by renewable energy systems.

FNN activities

  • Project partner in “Network Control 2.0” 
  • Assessment and recommendations on adapting or expanding network connection rules
  • Monitoring and transfer of results into VDE-Application Rules

Time frame

  • 2017 – 2021

Result

  • Further development of technical regulation

Possibilities and limits of grid utilization in the distribution grid

E-mobility is still a niche market in Germany. The political will is to reach the mass market. To that end, early and forward-looking requirements must be defined from the power grid perspective, which constitutes a reliable and available backbone for the necessary charging infrastructure.

E-mobility is still a niche market in Germany. The political will is to reach the mass market. To that end, early and forward-looking requirements must be defined from the power grid perspective, which constitutes a reliable and available backbone for the necessary charging infrastructure.

FNN activities

  • Analysis of challenges and development of approaches for the implementation of charging infrastructure for low and medium voltage
  • FNN/BDEW Meta-study “Research overview for grid integration of e-mobility”
  • Development of recommendations for optimal grid integration of e-mobility and transfer into technical regulations

Time frame

  • 2017 – 2019

Result

  • Meta-study
Downloads

The effects of dynamic behavior on network protection

More renewable energy systems are feeding into the distribution grid at the same time as large conventional power plants at extra high voltage are being decommissioned. In order to keep the system stable under these conditions, dynamic grid support at the distribution grid is becoming increasingly important.

More renewable energy systems are feeding into the distribution grid at the same time as large conventional power plants at extra high voltage are being decommissioned. In order to keep the system stable under these conditions, dynamic grid support at the distribution grid is becoming increasingly important.

FNN activities

  • Investigation of whether the introduction of full dynamic grid support in the low and medium voltage is necessary
  • Analysis of existing protection technologies and compatibility testing with limited dynamic network support

Time frame

  • 2018 – 2020

Result

  • Studies
Downloads

Precaution for emergency operation without ICT

Network operators are increasingly relying on Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). This creates new risks: what to do in the event of an ICT failure? Can the system continue to operate for a certain period of time without functioning ICT?

Network operators are increasingly relying on Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). This creates new risks: what to do in the event of an ICT failure? Can the system continue to operate for a certain period of time without functioning ICT?

FNN activities

  • Case differentiation (outage of different communication channels)
  • Emergency running properties from a system standpoint along with the necessary default values and access rights
  • System solution beyond individual installation outages
  • Determination of need for action and transfer of results into VDE-Application Rules

Time frame

  • 2017 – 2019

Result

  • Study

Smart Metering systems for control applications

An important building block for rethinking the energy system is the Smart Metering system which will enable secure communication with remote-controlled generation systems and consumer appliances. With its help, fluctuations between power supply and demand can be balanced out, facilitating the integration of renewable energies into the power market.

An important building block for rethinking the energy system is the Smart Metering system which will enable secure communication with remote-controlled generation systems and consumer appliances. With its help, fluctuations between power supply and demand can be balanced out, facilitating the integration of renewable energies into the power market.

FNN activities

  • Position, “Control with the intelligent metering system” (published in 2017)
  • FNN Requirement Specifications serve as the foundation for device specifications: control box as the first step to replacing ripple control technology
  • Architecture concept for the implementation of control functions

Time frame

  • 2017 – 2021

Result

  • Guidelines, Requirement Specifications, Implementation Support
Downloads

ICT security requirements for market participants

Operation in distribution grids is increasingly dependent on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Network operators are responsible for their proper operation and for their protection from threats in a reasonable manner.

Operation in distribution grids is increasingly dependent on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Network operators are responsible for their proper operation and for their protection from threats in a reasonable manner.

FNN activities

  • Security requirements for other market participants: reviewing and monitoring the development
  • Criteria for classifying access to system-related and aggregated total power
  • Minimize risk during unauthorized control of large amounts of total power

Time frame

  • 2018 – 2019

Result

  • Positioning

Responses to cyberattacks

Cyberattacks on network operators can have effects on the entire system. If attackers interfere with important IT functions this can lead to problems in grid operation. Since attacks cannot usually be fended off completely, damage limitation measures are all the more important.

Cyberattacks on network operators can have effects on the entire system. If attackers interfere with important IT functions this can lead to problems in grid operation. Since attacks cannot usually be fended off completely, damage limitation measures are all the more important.

FNN activities

  • Creation and maintenance of a guideline for the defense against cyberattacks and procedures for handling IT security incidents
  • Continuous operation of communication technology (patch/key management)
  • Exchange of experiences and transfer of best practices

Time frame

  • 2018 – 2020

Result

  • Guideline

Digitalization: requirements for long-term secure operation with ICT

As the energy market becomes increasingly digital, grid data and market actors are being processed in new ways. Currently, the communication infrastructure on the grid is built on long-lasting components and mostly on infrastructure managed by network operators. The requirements that will be set for the system in 20 years must be defined today, and they must be based on the increasingly complex tasks of the future.

As the energy market becomes increasingly digital, grid data and market actors are being processed in new ways. Currently, the communication infrastructure on the grid is built on long-lasting components and mostly on infrastructure managed by network operators. The requirements that will be set for the system in 20 years must be defined today, and they must be based on the increasingly complex tasks of the future.

FNN activities

  • Development of requirements for data acquisition, usage and processing in VDE Application Rules
  • Usage for public or dedicated networks
  • Evaluation of different ICT infrastructure designs
  • Development of a system for evaluating technical availability

Time frame

  • 2018 – 2021

Result

  • Further development of technical regulation
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