ESP: Preparing for the electrification of transportation

iMOVE is collaborating with the Centre for New Energy Technologies (C4NET) and RMIT on the Enhanced System Planning (ESP) for low voltage, electricity distribution networks to help prepare for the electrification of transportation.

This unique collaboration will coordinate what are traditionally disparate, modelling frameworks to update the concept of infrastructure utilisation at a distribution (sub-transmission) level, and its likely impact on the transmission level and other whole of system implications.

The key aim is to develop the foundation to inform post-2030 electricity system planning downstream to the transmission level by aligning a diverse group of stakeholders to:

• Provide harmonised, quantitative inputs into future planning strategies.
• Address the impact across the entire distribution system and its implications for the transmission system, particularly measured in terms of changing load profiles and distributed energy resources and relevant implications for asset requirements.
• Focus on the effects of changes in consumer technological adoption such as the electrification of transport and the interaction with localised renewables and distributed energy resources.

The methodologies and outputs are designed to allow scaling up to other states beyond Victoria with further funding and stakeholder support to create an ‘ESP-National’ approach.

The project will provide outcomes, insights and input data based on what-if scenarios that could be used by relevant stakeholders in their studies and general business as usual decision-making. The individual stakeholders and organisations will then be able to use these to inform their forecasts.

Participants

• Centre for New Energy Technologies (C4NET)
• RMIT University

Project background

C4NET is coordinating a multi-party collaborative research program of work under Enhanced System Planning (ESP), aimed at supporting energy sector planning as the electrification of transportation occurs.

The ESP is a collaborative research project between Distribution Network System Providers (DNSP), the Victorian Government, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), and leading universities, that seek to inform post-2030, sub-transmission-level electricity planning.

This work is comprised of 15 distinct research work packages which are mutually co-dependent and are coordinated to deliver the ESP project outcomes as designed by industry participants.

It will deliver insights to governments, regulators, and industry participants on the impacts that the electrification of transportation and the transition away from gas appliances is likely to have on existing electricity infrastructure. This will allow for policy, standards, regulation and markets, time to respond to these trends and
support a more efficient transition.

The ESP is governed by a steering committee, the members of which are available for consultation through C4NET. iMOVE, C4NET, and RMIT are collaborating on four ESP work packages in this project that have a meaningful impact on forecasting the electrification of transportation and how the industry may respond to optimising infrastructure supporting EVs. These work packages are:

• Work Stream 1: Technical modelling of electrification of transport profiles
• Work Stream 2: Victoria whole-distribution network architecture via synthetic network models
• Work Stream 3: Techno-economic modelling and impact of electrification flexibility options on the demand side to enhance network hosting capacity: existing industry structures and demand response
• Work Stream 4: Techno-economic modelling and impact of electrification flexibility options on the demand side to enhance network hosting capacity: future industry structures and multi-sided markets.

These work packages inform the foundations, inputs, and assumptions for detailed modelling of the electrification of transportation within Victoria. There are discussions on scaling the ESP (through subsequent funding arrangements) to a national level.

Project objectives

These work stream objectives are to create:

1. a baseline use case for the electrification of transportation;
2. a sample electricity network upon which to model the impacts of the electrification of transportation across Victoria;
3. a model to forecast the impact of various operational models related to electrification of transportation and the energy transition on the current electricity networks for the purpose of enhancing existing network hosting capacity: existing industry structures and demand response; and
4. modelling to understand how future industry structures and multi-sided markets may positively impact electricity network hosting capacity under the influence of the electrification of transportation and the energy transition.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!