The decarbonization process of energy systems, both at the European and national levels, is significantly impacting the power system. In the future, distribution networks will need to integrate a larger share of distributed generation (DG) and load (e.g., electric vehicles). They will also need to ensure, on the one hand, the participation of resources connected to the distribution network in dispatching services (e.g., UVAM – Mixed Enabled Virtual Units) and, on the other hand, utilize these resources for local flexibility services. The study of potential future development scenarios and the new capabilities that network control will need to acquire are therefore essential for the evolution of distribution network planning and operation tools.

The project aims to develop methodologies to conduct detailed local analyses of large-scale evolution scenarios, considering the coexistence of different energy carriers (electricity, gas, district heating). The detailed study on the electrical network, conducted in collaboration with Unareti (distributor for Milan, Brescia, and Alto Garda), aims to identify potential critical issues and their consequences on grid planning in various alternative scenarios, while also considering the potential benefits of local flexibility services.

This report presents the preliminary analyses that will form the basis for subsequent detailed studies. In particular, the possible schemes for the participation of distributed resources in local regulation services of the distribution network are described. Additionally, the main characteristics of the energy networks in the study areas are outlined, with a specific focus on electrical distribution networks. For these, the general effects of decarbonization policies (e.g., increased electric vehicles, distributed generation) will also be analyzed.