Expected advantages to Customers, to utilities and to environment, from the connection of a microturbine to a low voltage grid, are presented. The main components and loads of the designed microgrid are characterised, and some performance results that shall be achieved on the system are presented. Furthermore, some technical challenges are focused to emphasise the microgrid implementation barriers in the Portuguese study case.

Environmental concerns, improvement of the energy supply quality, increasing service safety levels and company image towards its Clients led EDP Distribuição to adopt, during the year of 2007, new solutions in medium voltage overhead lines. Several different technologies were analysed and EDP Distribuição decided to implement a pilot, a small 15 kV network with a compact network system of covered conductors, known as "spacer cable system", the first experience in Portugal, followed in a special way by the Portuguese Electrical Authorities, owing to the fact that national regulations only refer to bare and insulated overhead conductors. This case is supposed to contribute to the introduction of covered conductors and compact networks in national legislation.

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