Moves to mitigate the effects of climate change set against increasing dependence on electrical energy are drivers for major change in the electricity supply industry. The localised deployment of new power technologies is seen as offering significant benefits in terms of energy efficiency, security of supply and utilisation of electrical infrastructure. The key facilitators for this change include new generation technologies, new energy storage devices, communications and control solutions, and interface technology. Furthermore this development is expected in the context of a displacement of large generators as they reach retiral and within an electrical network developed on the premise of “many loads – few sources”.

This Consortium is investigating how to coordinate many small distributed energy resources, DERs, such that they contribute to (and are rewarded for) the effective operation of the power system. Such an arrangement is known as a highly distributed power system (HDPS). Research will identify whether network support functions should be provided by coordination of the multitude of low cost distributed sources or whether these functions should be concentrated in larger dedicated items of equipment.

The Consortium is addressing conceptual design, frameworks for operation and appraisal, and the systematic integration requirements for DERs.

Learn more about HDPS Consortium...