Increasing DER hosting capacity in Öland, Sweden, via active network management (ANM)

The Öland distribution network in Sweden has experienced generation development to a degree where any further generation connections will exceed network capacity limits. Under traditional network design principles, new hosting capacity must be provided by adding capacity through building new assets or reinforcing existing assets. This traditional approach requires expensive replacement or addition of grid infrastructure, and will provide grid capacity that is only required under very rare extreme operating conditions on the network. As an alternative to grid reinforcement, E.ON is introducingnon-firmcurtailable network connections to increase grid hosting capacity without the need for grid reinforcement. E.ON is demonstrating the granular curtailment of generator export under these extreme network conditions, achieved via Active Network Management (ANM) technology. This approach avoids costly reinforcement of the network across Öland and presents lower-cost and accelerated connection for the renewable generators connecting to the distribution network. This paper presents the hosting capacity challenge at Öland, representative of challenges faced across the distribution network in Sweden. The ANM functions are described alongside integration of DLR, reactive power management and the inter-relation between the different solutions. The paper shares the learning from the implementation of the solution.