Electricity Distribution Networks In The Decentralisation Era

This book explores the changing economics, regulations, and operations of electricity distribution networks. It highlights the central challenges and opportunities caused by the rise of decentralisation paradigm in the power system within this segment of the electricity supply chain. As decarbonisation objectives continue to transform the power sector, the distribution system experiences an increased penetration of energy and flexibility resources that come from a variety of sizes, technologies, and capabilities. This makes traditional approaches to economic, regulation and operation of electricity distribution networks obsolete. This book aims to provide insights into the ways which decarbonisation, decentralisation and digitalisation trends in the electricity sector will eventually shape future of distribution grids. It will be relevant to students, researchers, and policymakers interested in energy economics, the political economy of energy, and the electricity sector.

The Future of Decentralized Electricity Distribution Networks assesses the evolution of the services delivered by the distribution network as demands placed on it proliferates from distributed, self-generating, power storing and power sharing ‘consumers’ – which Sioshansi terms ‘prosumagers’. The work outlines the processes by which passive and homogeneous electricity consumers become prosumers and prosumagers, the nature of their service needs, and dependence on the services delivered by the distribution network diverges. Contributors assess how consumers are discovering and exercising options to migrate away from total reliance on upstream generators to produce electricity and on the delivery network for its transmission. As they do so, the "utilities" – be they distributors or retailers – must rethink the traditional utility business model. How will they find sufficient revenues to cover their fixed and variable costs as volumetric consumption declines when some consumers become prosumers – or go a step further and become prosumagers? This work argues that new service, business models and new methods for collecting sufficient revenues to maintain the network are mandatory for the survival of modern utilities. Examines the future of services demanded by electricity customers as some diverge from their traditional total reliance on the network for delivery of all their service needs Reviews the emergence of new business models to meet the diverging needs of customers Explores the costs imposed by new types of customers on the delivery network and how to collect sufficient revenues from all to maintain it in ways that are efficient, equitable and fair

Smart distribution networks are one of the key research topics of countries looking to modernise electric power networks. Smart Electricity Distributions Networks aims to provide a basic discussion of the smart distribution concept and new technologies related to it, including distributed energy resources (DERs), demand side integration, microgrids, CELL and virtual power plants. With writing from leading contributors in the field of smart distribution networks, this volume discusses different concepts within the field as well as the best methods to analyse smart distribution systems to provide a cohesive overview of issues relating to Smart Grid and related technologies. This book will be valuable to those with an interest in understanding the technologies and performance of smart distribution networks as well as engaging with the wider debate over the future Smart Grid.

This book highlights the recent research advances in the area of operation, management and control of electricity distribution networks. It addresses various aspects of distribution network management, including operation, customer engagement and technology accommodation. Electricity distribution networks are an important part of the power delivery system, and the smart control and management of distribution networks is vital in order to satisfy technical, economic, and customer requirements. A new management philosophy, techniques, and methods are essential to handle uncertainties, security, and stability associated with the integration of renewable-based distributed generation units, demand forecast and customer needs. This book discusses these topics in the context of managing the capacity of distribution networks while addressing the future needs of electricity systems. Furthermore, the efficient and economic operation of distribution networks is an essential part of management of system for effective use of resources, and as such the also addresses operation and control approaches and techniques suitable for future distribution networks.

This book highlights the latest research advances in the planning and management of electric distribution networks. It addresses various aspects of distribution network management including planning, operation, customer engagement, and technology accommodation. Given the importance of electric distribution networks in power delivery systems, effectively planning and managing them are vital to satisfying technical, economic, and customer requirements. A new planning and management philosophy, techniques, and methods are essential to handling uncertainties associated with the integration of renewable-based distributed generation, demand forecast, and customer needs. This book covers topics on managing the capacity of distribution networks, while also addressing the future needs of electric systems. The efficient and economical operation of distribution networks is an essential aspect of ensuring the effective use of resources. Accordingly, this book addresses operation and control approaches and techniques suitable for future distribution networks.

This book critically engages with the idea of decentralization as empowering cities and their residents to act innovatively and creatively. The contributions thus highlight how the term ‘empowerment’ in the context of decentralization regimes masks a competing array of intentions and agendas. Who and what are ‘empowered’, given a ‘voice’ and allowed to ‘participate’ via the processes and structures of decentralization (and to what ends) are too frequently assumed in normative conversations about ‘bringing government closer to the people’ and ‘community driven development’. Creating an illusion of a shared language and common set of priorities therefore obscures more complex realities, particularly when there is a disconnect between the official goals of decentralization and civil society aspirations that reinforces politics of exclusion at the grassroots. Equally, official processes of decentralization can, and often are, accompanied by less visible processes of ‘recentralization’ through the reassertion of central state control over putatively autonomous jurisdictions. Through studies in six Asian countries (India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand and Japan) the essays in this book examine cases whereby a range of urban actors and institutions have been ‘empowered’ via decentralization, and how this realignment of local power relations impacts upon the dynamics of urban governance, albeit not always in socially progressive ways. This book was published as a special issue of Space and Polity.