Integrating DG, peculiar planning challenges abound in the development of distributed generation in special horticultural areas

Local governments in the Netherlands designate rural areas for horticultural activities, and each greenhouse constructed includes a combined heat and power (CHP) plant. Therefore, the clustering of horticultural activities and the associated CHP plants results in the grid operator, one of which is Stedin, having to accept a high-penetration level of CHP plants on the medium-voltage (MV) distribution network. The development of efficient MV grids in horticultural areas is a complex problem that starts with consideration of grid planning. For the grid-planning process, four scenarios are developed based on experience gained in comparable horticultural areas, new technological developments and an inventory of all connection requests received in the Oostland area. To determine the optimal solution for the connection of CHP plants in the Oostland area, alternative grid designs are derived. Due to the rate of horticultural area development and the extended time scales associated with grid transmission projects, MV system development is limited to TSO substation extensions.