The Strijp-S living-lab: testing innovative solutions for fault protection, self-healing, congestion management, and voltage control

Distribution system operators are investigating methods to facilitate a high penetration of distributed energy resources while maintaining network reliability in a cost effective way. Some of the challenges associated with a high penetration of distributed energy resources are network overloading, voltage violations, and inadequate fault protection. Mitigation measures to these challenges are investigated in a newly developed living-lab in the district of Strijp-S, Eindhoven, the Netherlands. This living-lab is home to demonstrators from two H2020 projects: In-terFlex and UNITED-GRID. The InterFlex demonstrator focuses on congestion management and voltage control through a day-ahead and intraday flexibility market, while the UNITED-GRID demonstrator focuses on near real-time solutions for congestion management, voltage control, fault protection and self-healing. This paper addresses the innovative solutions which will be developed and tested in both demonstrators, in relation to the living-lab. Furthermore, an initial overview is given of a potential integrated approach to utilize both demonstrators in parallel.