In the research project Improved Pulse Program, researchers are working on further developing Alliander's Pulse Program. PULSE makes the best possible estimation of transformer station (MSR) loads using smart meter consumption data. This smart meter data may only be used in aggregated and anonymised form, and is only available for a portion of electricity connections. By using methods such as disaggregation and clustering, detailed consumption profiles are created and grouped. These insights help not only to improve daily network management but also to make the power grid future-proof.
What do disaggregation and clustering do?
- Disaggregation splits the total energy consumption of a connection, measured via the smart meter, into gross generation and consumption. By separating generation and consumption, further analyses, such as clustering users into similar groups, can be performed much more effectively
- Clustering groups connections with similar consumption profiles. This allows different types of users to be distinguished, such as residential homes, offices or industrial buildings. This helps grid operators to better estimate consumption or generation over time for connections where no smart meter is available, or where smart meter data cannot be used because a time series from an individual customer is needed.
Why is this important?
By applying disaggregation and clustering, the Improved Pulse Program can provide valuable insights for:
- Daily operational planning: Through better predictions of energy flows, grid operators can utilise the power grid more efficiently, avoid peak loads and ensure stability. Meters don't need to be installed everywhere to get a picture of the flows and voltages in the grid.
- Network design and planning: The consumption profiles and clusters help with integrating new customers and designing new networks that are tailored to the needs of different types of users. Here too, the major advantage is that, without installing measurements in every transformer house, there is already a reasonably good picture of the energy flows through the transformer.
