Standardisation of curtailment analysis and the implications for distribution network operators and generators

The introduction of Active Network Management (ANM) has enabled managed connections as a business-as-usual option. These provide generation developers with access to network capacity, while avoiding costly network reinforcement. The managed nature of such connections introduces the prospect of energy curtailment during periods of network constraint. It is necessary to perform curtailment analysis in order to estimate the potential curtailment which a generator may expect to experience. The assumptions and limitations of these curtailment assessments must be understood both by those performing the studies and by those who must review outcomes and understand implications for commercial viability of a generation development. The process of agreeing and, consequently, procuring the necessary input data often introduces a source of commercial challenge and possible delay into the curtailment assessment process. There is, therefore, a requirement for standardisation of data inputs for the curtailment assessment process. This will ensure that the analysis provides a representative estimate of curtailment that is based on appropriate network models and data. This paper explores the requirement for standardisation and recommends a standardised approach for the provision of network data and presentation of outcomes.