Integrating Renewables in Distribution Grids

In recent years, the transition of the power supply chain towards a sustainable system based on “green” electricity has become a main challenge for distribution grid operators and further stakeholders in the power system. To enable the evaluation of new concepts for the integration of such technologies, first the feed-in characteristics of photovoltaic, wind and biomass generators are studied in this thesis. The achieved insights are used for multi-disciplinary research, 1) technically, e.g. for the dimensioning of grid and storage assets in distribution grids to cope with the feed-in characteristics, 2) economically, e.g. by deriving break-even points for storage assets as a substitute to conventional grid reinforcements, 3) in regulatory terms; for this, it is investigated whether or not innovative investments are incentivized by the grid regulation method and 4) from a welfare point of view since several stakeholders may be interested in using the flexibility provided by such decentralized storage assets. All of the investigations include real-world case studies from German regions already facing the exciting and challenging developments of the energy transition.