Evolution of electricity distribution control room data streams - UK case study

The move towards 'Net Zero', the balance of greenhouse gas emissions produced and removed from the atmosphere, is increasing the complexity of managing distribution networks, with more deployments of low carbon technologies, new markets for flexibility services, and greater monitoring and visibility of the network itself. This has driven the UK's Distribution Network Operators who manage the network, to evolve towards becoming Distribution System Operators, taking on a role more akin to the traditionally more complex Transmission System Operator. In parallel with this development, the data streams utilised by the distribution network control room have also evolved. This paper sets out this evolution by detailing the existing data streams within a typical distribution control room, and how these data streams will need to evolve, as well what new sources of data a future control room will need to accommodate, and finally by identifying novel ways that that value can be created from this data through the use of new 'smart' tools.