Lessons learnt from real-time monitoring of the low voltage distribution network

Up to now, the evolution of the distribution network toward the smart grid model has been essentially focused on two non-intersecting areas: medium voltage network automation and smart metering. The former one is mainly focused on improving the quality of service, studying and deploying fault location, isolation and service restoration systems, while the latter has been addressed to improve the customer relationship management, promote the customer awareness and enable new smart home services. In most cases a deep investigation of the low voltage network has been left disregarded, even if it represents the asset bridging the medium voltage level up to final customers. This network segment is probably the most affected by regulatory actions promoting intermittent renewable generations, distributed storage, heat pumps and the growing diffusion of electric vehicles utilization. The paper describes a field demonstrator of the FP7 European project IDE4L, where an extensive analysis of the low voltage network has been performed by means of an innovative use of smart meters and the installation of sensors on the medium-to-low voltage substation.