Local DER Network Solutions.

Findings and recommendations Research opportunities The research roadmap begun development by exploring possible research opportunities under nine areas, identified as follows – • Governance and regulation (RO1) • Revenue streams (RO2) • Ownership and access (RO3) • Electric vehicles (RO4) • Storage options (RO5) • Advanced technologies (RO6) • Consumer expectations (RO7) • Microgrids in distribution networks (RO8) • Balancing interests (RO9) 8 Research opportunities RO1 to RO9 are shown in Figure 2 below to reflect their broad interrelationships. Five of the nine overarching research opportunity areas cover non-technical aspects such as governance and regulation (RO1), revenue streams (RO2), ownership and access (RO3), consumer expectations (RO7) , and balancing interests (RO9). These aspects of research are commonly applicable to all the technological solutions covered in microgrids and VPPs (RO8), advanced technologies (RO6), energy storage (RO5) and electric vehicles (RO4). As illustrated in Figure 2, microgrids and VPPs are central to the new power system concepts. Advanced technologies can make revolutionary changes to the performance, cost and benefit of these solutions. Energy storage is an integral component of future power systems. As such, knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of different available options is vital for reduction of system costs and improving performances. Finally, the anticipated spread of electric vehicles (EV) used in these power systems present both challenges and opportunities, and future research must consider their presence in these modern power systems.