The increasing penetration of RE Sources (RES) and other distributed generation (DG) in the European energy supply will lead to numerous technical challenges. For maintaining a reliable and even cost effective energy supply, new efforts have to be undertaken for the management of energy networks, integration of RES and other decentralised units in the distribution networks, for load management and shaping, as well as technical and socio-economic aspects of decentralised energy markets.

The aim of the project is the preparation of a new distributed generation structure in the power supply of European interconnected (regional, local) and island grids. Planning such fundamental structural changes, a global approach which takes into account grid control methodologies, stability aspects, power quality and safety is indispensable. On this basis elaborated in WP 1 and WP 2, planning, training and operation tools will be developed in WP 4 and WP 9. Two laboratory DG grids will be set-up in WP 6 for grid stability and control and in WP 8 for power quality issues. A cost effective introduction of the DG technology makes it necessary to apply and further develop new information and communication technologies (ICT) especially concerning energy management and electricity trading (WP 5). The developed tools will be applied by several utilities of different regional and local grids in Europe to demonstrate the RE technology implementation (WP 7 and WP 10). Finally, socio-economic issues regarding the impact of DG technology to consumers will be investigated in WP 3 and an overall assessment of DG in local supply systems will be carried out in WP 11.

This research project is supported by the European Commission under the 5th Framework Programme
and contributing to the implementation of the Key Action 5 "Cleaner energy systems, including renewables" within thematic programme Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development