The impacts of underground transients and incipient faults on the quality and reliability of supply in low voltage networks

This paper summarises the work EDF Energy has been undertaking to target the problem of low voltage incipient and repetitive faults. A brief introduction into some of the problems is given together with definitions of four evolutionary stages of low voltage faults. The impact of extensive embedded generation on future low voltage networks, together with some potential solutions for the more efficient management of low voltage faults through the concept of ‘just in time’ fault management, is considered.