protection, stakeholders see value in increasing the public release of network model and dataset benchmarks, such as those developed by the National LV Feeder Taxonomy Study. Open-source data and models can foster collaboration and higher quality solutions, reducing duplication of work, increasing trust and credibility, and enabling more transparent and informed policy development.
S2b: Assessing DER Hosting Capacity Capability Review Network hosting capacity refers to the amount of DER that can be accommodated by a distribution network (or part of it) without adversely impacting power quality or reliability for normal operation at any point in time and at a given location under existing control configurations and infrastructure. Hosting capacity assessments can be conducted to measure either the amount of energy consumption (i.e. load) or export that a given network segment can accommodate. Hosting capacity assessments vary by technology – a different assessment is required to determine PV hosting capacity compared to battery hosting capacity. The accurate assessment of network hosting capacity is becoming a foundational enabler for system planning and operation as network processes change with the increase of DER. Hosting capacity is dynamic in nature and can change depending on the weather and the behaviour of customers and their devices. Hosting capacity can also change due to various control approaches taken by network managers. Therefore, matching the physical hosting capacity with the flexible operation and/or interconnection of DERs is an alternative to traditional distribution upgrades. To meet the ongoing customer demand for DER connection, DNSPs need to know and effectively communicate the physical hosting capacity of their networks. A hosting capacity assessment is at core a power system simulation study in which DER are increased on a network model until the network’s technical limits are reached. The quality of the network model and data used in such studies are central to the accuracy of the assessment, which is affected by modelling and data errors and uncertainty. The intended use case is a key driver of the assessment, as it guides the selection of relevant impact factors – model inputs and associated assumptions underlying the calculation, such as network configuration, voltage regulation assumptions, thermal limits and target DER portfolio. Best practise involves the following steps for the assessment of hosting capacity: 1. Establish a relevant stakeholder process, 2. Select and define the target use cases for the hosting capacity assessment, 3. Identify criteria to guide the implementation of the hosting capacity assessment, 4. Identify the network representation approach, 5. Develop a hosting capacity assessment methodology (or methodologies) and 12
