Electricity supply in cities is provided by distribution system operators (DSO), who are responsible for ensuring a secure and sufficient power supply. Cities rely on DSO planning and operating procedures to improve the resiliency of their power systems. Most DSO-s operate in multiple cities and plan their investments at least two years in advance. This results in cities having limited say and means to prepare for crises or adverse events.
We propose municipal electric grids for power system reconfiguration and redundancy. Most municipalities own and operate power systems through public streetlighting. For DSO-s, it is already common to plan and
implement redundant, or N-1 (ensures the system continues to function even if one component fails), distribution grids and use operational reconfiguration of the system to ensure optimal loading of the grid. Our solution proposes that municipalities build and own relevant grid infrastructure to achieve grid redundancy. Aside from improved resiliency, network reconfiguration can create energy islands, enabling behind-the-meter energy sharing among municipal assets such as municipal buildings, public EV charging stations, PV plants and energy storage systems (ESS). The proposed solution relies on established technologies but applies an innovative approach to asset ownership and operations. As a result, municipalities receive practical and proactive measures to improve their energy supply resilience and optimise the self-consumption of locally produced renewable energy.
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