Whole-State Network Impact Assessment

Project Completed

Our Final Report: WP 1.6 Whole-State Network Impact Assessment

Enhanced System Planning (ESP) is a major research project led by C4NET aimed at informing sub-transmission level electricity planning beyond 2030. It brings together Victorian Universities and distribution companies (known in Australia as Distribution Network System Providers [DNSPs]) in a unique collaboration to update the modelling of infrastructure utilisation. The project outcomes will support the entire energy sector and help achieve an intelligent, optimised transition to renewable electricity and a clean energy system. The models and datasets produced will be transferable to industry through deep engagement with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Victorian DNSPs.

Summary

This project is an element of Work Package 1 "Whole-Distribution Electrification Impact Assessment and Mitigation Options" of C4NET’s Enhanced System Planning (ESP) collaborative research project.

It will perform a comprehensive impact assessment of electrification for different regions across Victoria based on the modelling and results from Work Packages 1.1 to 1.5. It will include the plausible combination of EV and electrification of gas delivering extreme demand and the likely amount of reinforcement needed under different scenarios.

This 1-year project (May 2024 to May 2025) is funded by the Centre for New Energy Technologies (C4NET) and involves the Australian distribution companies AusNet Services, CitiPower & Powercor, and United Energy.

Our Team

Technologies Involved

Solar PV, Electric Vehicles, Batteries, Electrification of Gas, Smart Meters
Sub-Transmission Networks
Smart Grids

Tools

Python ⟺ OpenDSS

Go to Timeline

March 2025 (end)

✓ Report with a summary of input data and assumptions

February 2025

✓ Provide aggregated DER profile view from/for the transmission system, carried out in a bottom-up way

✓ Outputs on the impact of electrification scenarios at the State level for different DNSP areas, with impacts on peak and minimum demands, infrastructure limitations and reinforcement requirements, load shapes, etc.

November 2024

✓ Production of datasets and modelling approaches to inform the potential impact of electrification scenarios in different regions

August 2024

✓ Initial data collection to perform a comprehensive impact assessment of electrification based on models and results from Work Packages 1.1 to 1.5.

May 2024 (Start)