To implement and demonstrate SOGNO delivered services in the area of self-healing Networks to reduce customer outage duration times.
Location
Kerry and Waterford
Local situation
ESB Networks the DSO in Ireland owns and operates the distribution network under regulato-ry licence. The licence contains certain responsibilities that ESB Networks must operate un-der, one of these is to minimise the number of customer outages and also the length of time these customer outages last. The Regulator sets a target for both of these measures that contain financial penalties if they are not reached hence it is prudent for ESB Networks to invest in solutions to avoid these financial penalties .
To this end different methods of self-healing network have been investigated and some have been implemented on our network. Two such existing self-healing parts of our network have been selected for our trials of SOGNO services.
Trial Site set up and what will be done
- Kerry – ESB Networks has an existing self-healing scheme on two MV feeders between Kenmare and Cahirciveen. The existing scheme is based on utilising the timer programmable facility within Nulec Re-closers. However there is no interaction between the reclosers and SOGNO will look to improve on this by using sensors and grid edge al-gorithms to optimise the operation of this solution.
- Waterford – This trial site currently uses the fault passage indication in Soule switches to indicate to local operators the approximate location of a fault. This enables sectionalising of the Network to minimise the number of customers affected by the fault. Employing SOGNO services aims to automate this operation hence reducing the number and length of time customers are without supply.
Interview with Paul Hayes, Smart Networks Engineer
Question 1: What is the special focus of the SOGNO demonstration site (especially compared to the other sites)?
The Irish sites will utilise several of the SOGNO services to demonstrate the improvements on customer outages that can be attained from modern communications and software. Spe-cifically grid edge algorithms will lead to quicker sectionalising of the network under outage that will reduce the number of customers affected by the outage.
SOGNO will therefore demonstrate a real world benefit for customers.
Question 2: What are the long-term benefits for your company you expect from being part in the SOGNO project?
As the regulated DSO in Ireland the reduction in customer outage numbers and duration will have a financial benefit to ESB Networks thereby releasing finances for other network im-provements. Also the reduction in customer numbers seeing outages will improve customer service in the increasingly electrified world. As we move towards increased distributed en-ergy resources on our network the improved visibility of the network derived from SOGNO will enhance our control and operation of the network.
Paul Hayes, Smart Networks Engineer
