Embedded Generation Project – Final Report
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Embedded Generation Project – Final Report Energy Networks Association November 2015 Disclaimer This document is intended for public distribution. Marchment Hill Consulting, its partners, employees and agents neither owe nor accept any duty of care or responsibility to such persons, and shall not be liable in respect of any loss, damage or expense of any nature which is caused by any use they may choose to make of this report. The information outlined herein is proprietary and its expression in this document is copyrighted, with all rights reserved to Marchment Hill Consulting. Any form of reproduction, dissemination, copying, disclosure, modification, distribution and/or publication of this document without express written permission from Marchment Hill Consulting is strictly prohibited. Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................... 1 Abbreviations used in this report ................................................... 12 1 Background ........................................................ 15 2 Scope and approach.............................................. 17 2.1 Scope ......................................................................... 17 2.2 Approach .................................................................... 17 2.3 Document maps ............................................................. 18 3 Technical impact assessment ................................... 20 Note on authorship ................................................................... 20 3.1 Introduction ................................................................. 20 3.2 Technical constraints and network impacts ............................ 21 3.3 Options for mitigating network impacts and risks ..................... 61 3.4 Options for maximising network benefits ............................... 97 3.5 Australian Standards gap analysis ...................................... 146 4 Regulatory impact assessment ................................ 160 Note on authorship ................................................................. 160 4.1 Introduction ............................................................... 160 4.2 The National Electricity Customer Framework ....................... 160 4.3 Non-National Electricity Customer Framework states .............. 162 4.4 Cost of connection ....................................................... 165 5 Commercial impact assessment ............................... 168 Note on authorship ................................................................. 168 5.1 Introduction ............................................................... 168 5.2 Commercial impacts ..................................................... 169 5.3 Valuation framework .................................................... 181 5.4 Commercial opportunities .............................................. 194 5.5 Implications for the network service provider business model .... 210 6 Policy and regulatory options ................................. 213 Note on authorship ................................................................. 213 6.1 Introduction ............................................................... 213 6.2 Key technical findings ................................................... 213 6.3 Key regulatory and commercial findings .............................. 218 7 Recommendations ............................................... 227 Note on authorship ................................................................. 227 7.1 Introduction ............................................................... 227 7.2 Enabling technologies and pricing ..................................... 228 7.3 Enabling business models ............................................... 233 7.4 Enabling partnerships .................................................... 235 Appendix A – Survey responses ......................................... 237 Appendix B – Analysis of embedded generation/distributed energy resources uptake and network impact forecasting techniques ....... 250 Introduction ......................................................................... 250 Review of methodologies .......................................................... 250 References ........................................................................... 257 Appendix C – Maximising network benefits: overview of relevant literature ..................................................................... 262 Photovoltaics and storage ......................................................... 262 Diesel, gas, steam and hybrid generation systems............................. 265 Embedded Generation Project - Final Report Executive Summary One of the most significant technical, regulatory and commercial challenges faced by the electricity industry to date is the continued uptake of embedded generation (EG)1. This has involved integrating EG into Australian electricity distribution networks, while maintaining the required levels of quality, safety, reliability and security of supply. The Energy Networks Association (ENA) has launched the Electricity Network Transformation Roadmap (NTR) project to identify the preferred transition which the electricity network industry must make in the next decade, to be ready to support better customer outcomes under a diverse range of long-term energy scenarios. This includes investigating and assessing the impacts of continued EG growth on Australian electricity network service providers (NSPs) and determining how EG integration can be undertaken in a way that is beneficial for both customers and NSPs. This report is a foundational piece for the NTR project, and is scoped to provide an overview of the key technical, commercial and regulatory impacts of EG. It looks at the opportunities EG presents for NSPs, how regulatory and policy options can be pursued to address the impacts, and how customers can receive greater value as either consumers, producers or prosumers2 of electricity. The report takes a proactive approach to new technologies and services. It has been prepared with the overarching principle that networks should actively develop industry-wide solutions, including integrating new technologies, to serve the long-term interest of their customers. Audience This report is intended to be released as a public document. It has been prepared on behalf of the ENA and its members in a process that has included extensive stakeholder consultation, input and review. Its public release is intended to help advance the customer’s ability to benefit from efficient and effective network operation through economic integration of EG, and seamless service offerings in EG related markets. Objectives The objectives of this report are to: investigate and assess the technical, regulatory and commercial impacts of continued growth in EG on Australian distribution and transmission networks 1 An embedded generating unit is defined as ‘a unit that generates electricity at a customer’s premises and is connected to a distribution system’. It includes, but is not limited to, micro-embedded generation units, electrical energy storage and electric vehicles. 2 A prosumer is defined as a customer who both produces electricity (via an embedded generator, which can be supplied to the grid) and consumes electricity from the grid. A consumer is a customer who only consumes electricity from the grid. 1 Embedded Generation Project - Final Report identify potential policy and regulatory options that the ENA and its members should consider in response to these impacts, to ensure the safe, reliable, affordable and efficient operation of the electricity network in the long-term interests of customers develop a high-level commercial framework to value EG and assess the commercial opportunities for NSPs. Approach In preparing this report, Marchment Hill Consulting (MHC) and the CSIRO undertook a desktop review of relevant literature, a survey of ENA members to gather views regarding the impact of EG on their network, and in-depth interviews to gather further insights. Workshops were held with the ENA and its members to test initial hypotheses, generate additional ideas, and review and refine the report’s findings and recommendations. Draft sections of the report were also distributed to the ENA and its members for review and feedback prior to completion of the final report. Authorship The authorship of this report was shared between CSIRO and MHC. CSIRO focused on the technical impacts of EG, while MHC focused on the commercial and regulatory impacts. All policy and regulatory options and recommendations have been developed by MHC and represent their views only. Limitations The report has the following key limitations: It is necessarily broad in scope. Its intention was to set out the broad landscape as a background to further work by the ENA and its members, and it therefore addresses a range of topics and highlights areas for further work for which there were neither time nor resources to investigate further. ENA member views were gathered through a survey and a selection of interviews, however, the results do not necessarily represent the views of ENA or all relevant NSP stakeholders. The impact of EG often varies considerably between NSPs, which could be due to factors such as different EG penetration levels, network asset conditions and peak demand levels. Wherever possible, we have attempted to highlight the variability of key findings between networks, but note that not all findings and recommendations will