On the Flexibility Potential of a Swiss Distribution Grid: Opportunities and Limitations

The growing integration of distributed renewable generation and the electrification of heating and transportation are rapidly increasing the number of flexible devices within modern distribution grids. Leveraging the aggregated flexibility of these small-scale distributed resources is essential to maintaining future grid-wide stability. This work uses the Swiss distribution grid of Walenstadt as a case study to provide insights into the aggregated flexibility potential of distribution grids. It demonstrates that incorporating devices such as heat pumps and photovoltaic systems significantly enhances distribution grid flexibility. It investigates the time-varying nature of aggregated flexibility and highlights how it can vary seasonally. Furthermore, simulations of future scenarios reveal that aggregated flexibility does not increase linearly or monotonically with higher levels of flexible device penetration. This is primarily due to the overloading of individual feeders, which underscores the impact of grid topology and network constraints on the aggregated flexibility potential.