Introduction

Generation customers connected to UK Power Networks can be subjected to curtailment through our Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) if they accepted a curtailable-connection.

During periods of network congestion, these DERS will have their access reduced to mitigate network constraint breaches. Their reduction is organised according to their connection application date in a last-in first-out (LIFO) arrangement.

The Constraints Real Time Meter Readings dataset on the Open Data Portal (ODP) gives a near real time status of the constraints on our network that are used by DERMS to reduce access.

This API accessible dataset can be used to see just how congested the network is, and for the specific DER operators themselves, they have access and visibility to the constraints of their specific site.

The dataset contains a timestamp, the constraint identifier, the most recent current reading in amps, the trim and release limits (curtailment starts at the trim and ends at the release), whether the site is in breach, a description of the constraint, and (only if you have access) the name of the DER.

The dataset updates as close to real time as is possible. Our scheduling is as follows:

At 15s past the minute mark, we scrape the network data and push it to the ODP server
On the minute mark, the ODP runs an update to refresh the dataset
The dataset refresh is completed between 5-15s past the minute mark
Only after this refresh has completed can you get the latest values from the ODP

You can run this notebook to see the dataset in action:

https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1Czx98U6zttlA3PC2OfI_0UzAbE48BvEq?usp=sharing

Methodological Approach

A Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) is installed at each curtailable-connection site providing live telemetry data into the DERMS. It measures communications status, generator output, and mode of operation.
RTUs are also installed at constraint locations (physical parts of the network, e.g., transformers, cables which may become overloaded under certain conditions). These are identified through planning power load studies. These RTUs monitor current at the constraint and communications status.
The DERMS design integrates network topology information. This maps constraints to associated curtailable connections under different network running conditions, including the sensitivity of the constraints to each curtailable connection. In general, a 1MW reduction in generation of a customer will cause <1MW reduction at the constraint. Each constraint is registered to a GSP.
DERMS monitors constraints against the associated breach limit. When a constraint limit is breached, DERMS calculates the amount of access reduction required from curtailable connections linked to the constraint to alleviate the breach. This calculation factors in the real-time level of generation of each customer and the sensitivity of the constraint to each generator.
Access reduction is issued to each curtailable-connection via the RTU until the constraint limit breach is mitigated.
Multiple constraints can apply to a curtailable-connection and constraint breaches can occur simultaneously.
Where multiple constraint breaches act upon a single curtailable-connection, we apportion the access reduction of that connection to the constraint breaches depending on the relative magnitude of the breaches.
Where customer curtailment occurs without any associated constraint breach, we categorize the curtailment as non-constraint driven.
Future developments will include the reason for non-constraint driven curtailment.

Quality Control Statement

Quality Control Measures include:

Manual review and correction of data inconsistencies.
Use of additional verification steps to ensure accuracy in the methodology.

Assurance Statement

The DSO Data Science Team checked to ensure data accuracy and consistency.

Other

Download dataset information: Metadata (JSON)

Definitions of key terms related to this dataset can be found in the Open Data Portal Glossary: https://ukpowernetworks.opendatasoft.com/pages/glossary/

Dataset Identifier

ukpn-constraints-real-time-meter-readings

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Dataset schema

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