WG 3: Cost-Benefit Analysis and Toolkits
Overview
The primary objective of Working Group 3 (WG 3) is to develop a global framework and related analyses that can identify, define, and quantify the benefits of demonstrating and deploying smart grid technologies and practices in electricity systems in a standardised way.
More specifically, WG 3 develops tools for use by analysts, regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders in the electricity system. These tools assist in defining and determining on system requirements and priorities for smart grid system investment and regulatory changes. The results inform the development of specific business cases, taking into account regulatory and market structures, the current status of the system, demand profiles, and the available generation assets and resources.
Different ISGAN countries prioritise distinct domains within the power sector. Therefore, when developing methodological frameworks and tools, a broad definition of the smart grid is adopted to encompass the full range of technologies and activities from centralized power generation to transmission and distribution networks end uses and distributed generation, and different energy vectors. The CBA-MCA tool is also employed for sector coupling and evaluating various integrated energy systems.
WG 3 builds on existing knowledge and experience gained in the various participating countries, as well as the current international efforts and cooperation between major smart grid stakeholders around the world.
Objectives
To develop a global framework that can consistently quantify the benefits of smart grid technologies and practices
To create decision-support tools and analyses for use by analysts, regulators, utilities, and other stakeholders
To advance understanding and assessment of power system flexibility
To enhance knowledge and methodologies for distribution network hosting capacity
To promote and apply SmartGridEval for distribution network analysis
Activities
Smartgrideval tool improvement and dissemination
- Updated tool version
- New case studies
Hosting capacity
- Hosting capacity definition and calculation approaches
- Indicators of hosting capacity
- Case studies
Identification of suitable regulatory frameworks to foster flexibility
- Methodologies for assessing the needed flexibility
- Analysis of the state of the art on market models
- Case studies identification and analysis
Participatory processes for determining investments in distributed energy resources (DERs)
Ongoing activity with WG 7
Working Group Manager (Italy)
Fabrizio Pilo
Università degli Studi di Cagliari
Working Group Lead (Italy)
Simona Ruggeri
Università degli Studi di Cagliari
