print mail ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION IN THE KUCOVA AREA

The objective of the proposed project activity is to reduce GHG by introducing energy efficiency measures to the Distribution Area of Kucova that supplies electricity to different categories of consumers like households, service, industry and agricultural sector. By increasing energy efficiency in this distribution area, the project activity will generate GHG emission reductions through reducing electricity consumption in this zone.

Albanian Energy System in general and Kucova power network in particular is facing serious problems due to the insufficient development of the transmission system and the actually lack of rehabilitation and upgrading of the equipment during the last 15 years. This has considerably reduced the reliability of system operation and the quality of electricity supplied, and has limited the exchange capacity with neighboring countries. Technical losses in transmission networks accounts for around 9%. The main existing problems are the following:
  • Overloading of several 220 kV transmission lines causes losses, lower voltage level than standard and load shedding;
  • Lack of system flexibility and the inadequate operation, reduces the reliability and capacity of the transmission system;
  • Lack of possibility to operate in an optimal way and non-balancing of the reactive power,
  • Many assets of the 220/110 kV substations are old and during the last years the maintenance operations barely existed,
  • Limitation of electricity exchange capacity with neighbouring countries,
  • The old and inefficient communication means of controlling system.
Within the Distribution Area, the main cables and the main distribution system feeders are 6 kV, 10 kV and 20 kV. The distribution equipment is in a very bad condition due to the long working period. Extreme overload conditions, which are characteristic for the winter period with the high consumption of electricity for space heating, damage the distribution system. Technical losses in the distribution are very high and accounts for 16%.
Electricity consumption for the Distribution Area of Kucova, for the time period 1995-2005 is given in the following table:
Electricity Consumption for the Kucova Distribution Zone (GWh/year)
Year 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
GWh 254 261 273 282 294 311 319 327 336 343

Based on the strategy for reduction of technical losses, the distribution system plan of Kucova Region has been developed. Following are the measures identified:

  • Gradual substitution of 35/10-6 kV system with 110/20 kV system, aiming to substitution of all 110/20 kV transformers at the end of the rehabilitation phase. This will reduce technical losses from 15,8% to 5%. At the same time, approx. 300 transformers with standardized characteristics 20/04 kV, 100 kVA will be constructed and placed in pillars in rural zones, resulting in reduction of technical losses. Existing transformers in urban zones will be modified from 10-6 kV to 20 kV and new standardized 20/04 kV ones will be adjusted with underground cables, with a capacity of 400 kVA, in order to have impact in reduction of technical losses;
  • Installation of electric meters for all consumers categories.

Applied methodology

The estimations of the GHG reductions were done using the simplified methodology for small scale projects AMS-II.B. "Supply side energy efficiency improvements – transmission and distribution", since the electricity savings are less than 60 GWh.

GHG offset

It is estimated that the project has a capacity to avoid emission of approximately 174.000 tCO2eq for the period 2008-2018.

Sustainability

The project contributes to the sustainable development by increasing efficiency in the electricity distribution and by mitigating negative effects of technical and non-technical distribution losses.

Current status

Winner of tender process: Acegas-Aps (www.acegas-aps.it) in partnership with Hentec

Estimated investment cost

Total investment needed for reduction of technical losses is approximately 7.5 millions EUR.

Local Partners

Kucova Distribution Zone, KESH (Albanian Power Company)