Abstract
This report explores the long-term perspective of Local Energy Community (LEC) integration,
considering future grid challenges like load increases leading to voltage problems. It
examines the role of LECs in reducing peak loads and subsequent contribution to voltage
regulation, especially when LECs include flexible resources. The report focuses on three key
scenarios: Business as Usual, Local Coordination, and Efficient Market, each illustrating
different interactions and integration levels between LECs, LEC operators, and Distribution
System Operators (DSOs). The study highlights the economic and operational trade-offs
between different scenarios, with a focus on the balance between DSO-LEC costs and
benefits. The study also highlights the importance of the location of LECs in the grid for
voltage regulation and incentive allocation based on LECs contribution to solving voltage
issues. Our findings show that LECs effectively reduce undervoltages, especially in winter.
While their impact on overvoltages is currently limited due to seasonal mismatches between
PV generation and load, increasing future loads may enhance their role in mitigating summer overvoltages.
considering future grid challenges like load increases leading to voltage problems. It
examines the role of LECs in reducing peak loads and subsequent contribution to voltage
regulation, especially when LECs include flexible resources. The report focuses on three key
scenarios: Business as Usual, Local Coordination, and Efficient Market, each illustrating
different interactions and integration levels between LECs, LEC operators, and Distribution
System Operators (DSOs). The study highlights the economic and operational trade-offs
between different scenarios, with a focus on the balance between DSO-LEC costs and
benefits. The study also highlights the importance of the location of LECs in the grid for
voltage regulation and incentive allocation based on LECs contribution to solving voltage
issues. Our findings show that LECs effectively reduce undervoltages, especially in winter.
While their impact on overvoltages is currently limited due to seasonal mismatches between
PV generation and load, increasing future loads may enhance their role in mitigating summer overvoltages.
