A methodology for improved TSO-DSO coordination in grid operation planning

The pan-European electric grid evolves towards a network with a wide diversity of (micro-)energy systems spread throughout all voltage levels. At the transmission level, this poses new challenges for cross-border energy exchange. At the distribution level small-scale generation, storages, and controllable loads offer flexibility available for provision of ancillary services. Meeting the EU energy supply policy while optimally operating the network under these conditions needs advanced TSO-DSO collaboration schemes. Taking this into account, this paper proposes a methodology which combines application of local flexibility management and control with central grid operation planning in order to meet planning criteria for future network operation. We discuss motivation and methodology process and present results of a proof-of-concept where the methodology was applied to a synthetic benchmark grid model.