Power Development Engineering Consulting Services

We support utilities in defining the most cost-effective long-term investment strategy for their networks. Our approach includes demand forecasting with spatial analysis, power flow studies under normal and contingency conditions, optimization of existing grid configurations, and development of future network scenarios. We deliver multiple investment pathways with cost-benefit analysis (CAPEX, OPEX, losses, and reliability) to provide a clear and optimized master plan for future grid development.

Objective: 

Plan the transmission system with given security and reliability criteria and at the least global cost, while introducing environmental concerns (right of ways) and Demand Side Management where suitable.

Means : 

• Demand and Load Forecast (at regional or national levels), on the basis of the evolution of causal factors (demographics, economic activity, plans et incentives for development)
• Selection of some strategies for which a target network matches voltage and thermal limits in a deterministic approach (N, systematic N-1 and/or N-2) or in a probabilistic approach (Loss Of Load Probability, LOLP), calculation of the unserved energy, SAIDI, SAIFI.
• Creation of alternative strategies based on splitting existing feeders, creation of additional feeders, creation of new grid susbstations, MV target structures (petals, sub-loops, back-up cable,…), optimization of separation points, optimization of capacitor placement, technical loss reduction
• Set-up of optimal sequence for investments for each strategy, while checking the compatibility with voltage criteria, short-circuits currents, stability margins (overload cascades, losses of synchronism, voltage collapse, frequency collapse)
• Comparison of the global costs (investments, fuels, other operating and maintenance costs, unserved energy if any)
• Computation of the residual value of the system by and economic analysis: comparison of Net Present Values, Internal Return Rate, Cost-Benefit ratios
• Identification of the investments that are in common to all strategies
• Sensitivity to the discount rate, to the demand, to DSM strategies, to the cost of fuels and costs of equipment, risk analysis.
  

Results :

Detailed recommendations for a least cost strategy based on an in-depth analysis

Expert project oversight from inception to completion ensuring timely delivery and quality assurance.

Objective:

Simulation of the generation operation for the cases with and without interconnection, analysis of the economic benefits of the interactions, while introducing environmental concerns (right of ways)

Comprehensive risk analysis to mitigate potential challenges and ensure project stability.

Objective:

Various objectives for improving the operation of the distribution grid

Means :

• Analysis and sizing of Ancillary Services (Frequency Control, Voltage Control, Alleviation of Congestions, Black Start)
• distribution automation: Optimization of Open Points, Optimization of Remote-Controlled Switches Placement, Optimization of Recloser Placement, Optimization of Capacitor Placement, economic analysis of investments, Demand
• Technical Loss reduction
• Non-Technical Loss Reduction
• Review of SCADA and EMS specifications and utilization

Results :

Detailed recommendations for cost-effective improvements of the operation of the distribution grid

On-demand technical assistance for seamless integration and troubleshooting for your projects.

Objectives:

Defining KPI and related procedures, developing a Grid Code, Management Info System, sizing of Ancillary Services

Means :

• KPI’s: Analysis of present performance, benchmark with other countries, comparison of pros and cons of various KPI’s, set up of data collection procedures
• Grid Code: description of existing rules and procedures, roadmap towards state-of-the-art grid codes
• Information system for the Regulatory Authority: Advice, design and specifications for a Management Information System
• Control of the companies in a monopoly position: selection of the parameters to be controlled, benchmark of the controlled company with companies of the same or similar type, size and context, comparison of method used for planning, methods used for day-to-day NTC computation, or day to day operations

Results :

Detailed recommendations for reaching a better compliance with existing or new targets, including loss reduction, voltage and frequency control 

Specialized workshops to enhance skills and knowledge in power development engineering.

Objective:

Develop the forecasts for the demand and load at national and local level 

Means :

• Data collection for the 10 last years evolution of sales and determining factors per consumption sector
• Selection of methods according to the type of sector and to the level of detail required, namely simple trend, sectoral trend, consumer trend, end-use decomposition,
• Analysis of the deviation of recent realizations with respect to former forecasts
• Modelling of the load shedding, modelling of new sectors of consumption, rural electrification, modelling of the willingness and capacity to pay; modelling of the non-technical losses and actions against these
• Forecasts of the determining factors, the electricity consumption, the peak load and the losses
• Modelling of Demand Side Management actions and Demand Response or Load Management where any

 Results :
Forecasts for the various consumption sectors and for the related peak load and off-peak load, at national level and at grid substation level

 Integration of Renewable Energy Power Plants and Battery Energy Storage Systems

Objective:

verification that RES or BESS plants do not alter the grid security and stability, and comply with grid requirements

Means :

• Modelling of the future demand, load and the future generation capacities
• Modelling of the grid evolution
• Load flow analysis and Contingency analysis at peak, off-peak and maximum RES or BESS injection,
• Short Circuit analysis, Transient Stability analysis and Dynamic Stability analysis
• Analysis of the compliance with the grid code or specific grid integration criteria as per the TSO requirements (RfG), including the reactive power generation capabilities at various terminal voltages
• Analysis of the harmonic current injections and comparison with standards
• Analysis of the damping of oscillations
• Analysis and optimization of the sizing of BESS and optimization of the location of BESS as suitable

Results :  

Full assessment studies for the integration of renewable energy power plants and/or BESS

Process of forecasting future electricity demand and strategically deciding how to produce and supply that power in a reliable, cost‑effective, and sustainable way.

Objective:

Develop a Least Cost Plan for the generation system in compliance with regulations

Means :

• Set-up of various strategies for the generation system, including or not CO2 objectives,
• Modelling of the various existing power units, committed units, planned units and candidate units, including Renewable Energy Plants, hydro plants
• Modelling of the demand forecasts and any Demand Side Management or Demand Response options
• Modelling of the fuel price forecasts
• Modelling of the interconnections and storage devices where any
• Simulation of the generation on the long term with computation of the reliability (Loss of Load Probability, Energy Not Served)
• Optimization of the planning strategy by comparison of the economic performance of various strategies  

Results : 

Full assessment of the future generation plans with combinations of demand, hydro and fuel cases

Structured educational programs or practical instruction designed to build knowledge and skills in how energy is produced, managed, and used— especially about previous topics.

Objective:

Enable your team to reach a high efficiency using system planning tools.

Means :

Several types of training are available depending on the needs of the participants.

• Overview of the various technologies available and on the various implementations in specific regions
• Training based on practical hand-on use of software (like Power Factory, NAP, GAP, DAP, Neplan,…) (example: some 20 training modules on grid planning and grid optimization in Power Factory, training on loss evaluation and loss reduction in Neplan, training on grid optimized separation points on NAP)
• Training based on developments on a demonstration DB for coaching the implementation on real DB (example : training on UFLS and WAMPAC devices modelled in Power Factory)
• Training including the Economic Analysis and Financial Analysis requirements as well as tricks on Excel
• Use of Moodle and MURAL for constant interaction with the participants
• Training of Trainers: sum of the above modules pls round tables workshops for team building with individual creation of a presentation, so that the participants become themselves trainers, evaluations

Results :

A Team who got practice for efficient and flexible modelling of your power system and becomes able itself to train other colleagues