Space data increasingly important for smart grid – EUSPA
Image: ©EUSPA, ©EU Agency for the Space Programme
Space data is playing an increasingly important role in the energy sector, from grid balancing to permitting processes, the EU Agency for Space Programmes (EUSPA) highlights in its latest market report.
The report, which lumps raw materials in with its review of the energy sector, points to the leveraging of space data for network condition monitoring and phasor measurement units (PMUs), among other energy sector applications.
For example, Earth observation data from the Copernicus programme is being used for situational awareness and monitoring, such as monitoring the structural integrity of assets including towers, poles and wind and solar plants, monitoring of land subsidence around energy infrastructure and assessment of vegetation encroachments.
Data from the European Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is providing accurate timing and synchronisation for PMUs, which are being deployed across the networks in increasing numbers.
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In the foreword to the report, which appears biennially, Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA, writes that while many of today’s challenges – such as addressing climate-related changes – may look like lemons, he thinks “they could be opportunities to make lemonade”.
“One of the key takeaways is how many of today’s most pressing challenges represent a real opportunity for Europe – an opportunity to leverage the power of Earth observation and GNSS to develop the innovative solutions that will have positive impact on society and define our collective future.”
Benefits of space data
The report notes that synchronisation quality is at the core of smart grid protection and control applications, with the growing adoption of smart grids and PMUs facilitated by substation digitisation.
State-of-the-art GNSS receivers, providing timing and synchronisation information, can fulfil the requirements and provide the necessary level of quality, with the latest receivers contributing to an overall higher level of resilience for the smart grid, states the report.
As a back-up time source, Precision Time Protocol (PTP) concepts are being explored, with
some of these also relying on the use of GNSS receivers.
The report also highlights how Earth observation data can deliver key information for climate-related indicators relevant to the European energy sector, such as electricity demand and renewables production.
For example, solar irradiance data is important for planning and operating solar installations, while SAR (synthetic aperture radar) data is particularly useful for measuring wind speeds on the surface of the ocean and data related to water surface temperature, water conditions and water level is useful for onshore, offshore and tidal energy installations.
The report also mentions examples of EU funded projects that are developing solutions based on space data. These include RESPONDENT, which is leveraging both Copernicus and Galileo data for renewables integration to the grid, and the KliWiSt project, which is drawing in historical data and near future projections to investigate the influence of climate change of wind energy site assessments.
