Observability of low voltage grids: Actual DSOs challenges and research questions

Low Voltage (LV) distribution power grids are experiencing a transformation from a passive to a more active role due to the increasing penetration of distributed generation, heat pumps and electrical vehicles. The first step towards a smarter operation of LV electrical systems is to provide grid observability in the control centers. In some countries like Denmark, the rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructures (AMI) has reached 100%. However, the vast amount of data sent from the smart meters to the control centers stresses the communication network, and complicates the data processing tasks. It becomes unrealistic to provide near real time full observability of the LV grid by applying Distribution System State Estimation (DSSE) utilizing the classical data collection and storage/preprocessing techniques. This paper investigates up-to-date the observability problem in LV grids by providing an updated state of the art on DSSE-AMI based, adaptive data collection techniques and database management system types. Moreover, the ongoing Danish RemoteGRID project is presented as a realistic case study.