Active distribution grids. Observability and RES-based DG forecasting

There are many reasons that have led to the penetration of Renewable Energy Sources based (RES-based) generation plants in the Italian power systems, i.e. the sensitivity to environmental issues, the presence of massive economic incentives and the development of technology. This, with the evolution of electricity markets, introduced new problems in the operation of the transmission and distribution grids. In particular, coordination actions between the Transmission System Operator (TSO) and the Distribution System Operator (DSO) became mandatory for guaranteeing a good operation of the whole power system. A series of resolutions, by the Italian Regulatory Authority for Energy, Networks and Environment (ARERA), has been published, aimed at tracing guidelines and indications to build and to grow the necessary collaboration between TSO and DSO. Areti, DSO in Rome metropolitan area, has decided to participate, in collaboration with Italian TSO, TERNA, in the first forms of experimentation in the field of observability of power flows and the state of RES-based resources spread over the Medium Voltage (MV) networks, as defined in the Authority documents. A system based on models, using neural networks, is proposed for reproducing the behaviour of the RES-based generation plants monitored. The paper presents it, verifying whether the application to cases of real plants is able to produce results compatible with the indications given to achieve the success of the tests.