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Optimization Principles Applied in Planning and Operation of Active Distribution Networks

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "F2: Distributed Energy System".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2024 | Viewed by 7116

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rene Prenc

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: distribution network planning and operation; distributed generation; energy storage; demand response; electric vehicles; distribution network protection; applied optimization

Prof. Dr. Dubravko Franković

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: smart-grid technologies; impact of conventional and renewable energy sources and energy storage facilities to the distribution grid; distribution network protection; transmission network planning and operation

Prof. Dr. Vitomir Komen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: distribution network planning and operation; transmission network planning and operation; distributed generation; energy storage; electric vehicles; applied optimization; electricity markets

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The shift from passive to active distribution power networks has gained full momentum over the last decade. We are witnessing the rapid development of new components and concepts being directly applied to this sector of electric power system. Distribution grid planners and operators work in an ever-changing environment today where the interests of the distribution network operator (DNO) often conflate or even conflict with the interests of independent power producers (IPPs). At the same time, power delivery to end-consumers must be safe, uninterrupted, and with satisfactory pre-specified quality parameters.

For these reasons, and due to their limited maneuvering space and broad scope of work, planners and operators welcome any help in the improvement and acceleration of their complex tasks. The area where science meets technology is usually linked with optimization principles, applied to DNOs’ assets. The optimal placement and sizing of distributed generation, capacitor banks, energy storage, D-STATCOM devices, and then optimal power flow, distribution network expansion problems, etc. are based on network planning for a future period. On the other hand, network reconfiguration, overcurrent protection optimization and coordination, demand response optimization, optimal integration of electrical vehicles, etc. are based on network operation, meaning they encompass a shorter time period.

This Special Issue focuses on combining the aforementioned challenges in optimization functions which can provide additional insight into the distribution grid’s overall performance. By solving these optimization functions, the goal of this Issue will be to satisfy the particular interests of all the stakeholders in this changed and dynamic business sector.

Potential topics include but are not limited to:

Distribution network expansion;
Optimal location and sizing of:
- Distributed generation units;
- Energy storage units;
- Capacitor banks;
- D-STATCOMs;
- Voltage regulators;
Distribution network reconfiguration;
Overcurrent relay optimization and coordination;
Distributed generation and clean technology;
Energy storage systems;
Demand response;
Electric vehicles;
High-voltage shore connection;
Ancillary services in distribution grids;
Transmission network planning and operation;
The concept of a market mechanism for distribution networks;
The influence of regulatory authorities on distribution network planning and operation;
Comparison and main advantages/drawbacks of different power distribution network concepts throughout the world.

Dr. Rene Prenc
Prof. Dr. Dubravko Franković
Prof. Dr. Vitomir Komen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

distribution network planning
distribution network operation
smart grid
optimization techniques
renewable energy sources
electricity markets
electric mobility
energy storage systems

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Management of Flexibility in Distribution Networks through Sensitivity Coefficients

by Klemen Knez, Leopold Herman and Boštjan Blažič

Energies 2024, 17(7), 1783; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en17071783 - 08 Apr 2024

Viewed by 433

Abstract

Due to a rising share of renewable energy sources on the production side and electrification of transport and heating on the consumption side, the efficient management of flexibility in distribution networks is crucial for ensuring optimal operation and utilization of resources. Nowadays, the sensitivity-based approach is mainly used in medium-voltage (MV) networks for regulating voltage profiles with reactive power of distributed energy resources (DER). The main disadvantage of the simplified sensitivity-based method is its inaccuracy in case of a high deviation of the network voltage from the nominal values. Furthermore, it was also noted that despite the fact that the method is well described in the literature, there is a lack of systematic approach to its implementation in real-life applications. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to address this disadvantage and to propose an algorithm designed to calculate required consumer flexibility in near real-time to ensure distribution grid operation within operational criteria. In the first part of the paper, network state, including line loading and node voltages, is assessed to determine distribution network node capacity. By analyzing the sensitivity of network busbars to changes in consumption and production, our algorithm effectively identifies the most efficient nodes and facilitates strategic decision-making for resource allocation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through simulations of real-world distribution network data, highlighting its ability to enhance network flexibility and improve resource utilization. Leveraging sensitivity coefficients, the algorithm enables flexible consumption and production management across various scenarios, supporting the transition to a more dynamic and efficient power system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization Principles Applied in Planning and Operation of Active Distribution Networks)

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30 pages, 5591 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Graph-Theoretic Approach for Optimal Phasor Measurement Units Placement Using Binary Firefly Algorithm

by Onkemetse Tshenyego, Ravi Samikannu, Bokani Mtengi, Modisa Mosalaosi and Tshiamo Sigwele

Energies 2023, 16(18), 6550; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16186550 - 12 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 936

Abstract

The pursuit of achieving total power network observability in smart grids using Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) carries a significant promise of real-time Wide-Area Monitoring, Protection, and Control (WAMPAC). PMU applications eliminate periodical measurements, thereby increasing accuracy through a high sampling rate of the measured power systems quantities. The high costs of installation of PMUs for total power system observability presents a challenge in the implementation of PMUs. This is due to the expensive costs of PMU devices. This has led to a prominent optimal PMU placement (OPP) problem that researchers tirelessly aim to solve by ensuring a complete power network observability while using the least installed PMU devices possible. In this paper, a novel Binary Firefly Algorithm (BFA) based on the node degree centrality scores of each bus is proposed to minimize PMU installations. The BFA solves the OPP problem in consideration of the effect of Zero Injection Buses (ZIBs) under normal operation and single PMU outage (SPO). The robustness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm is tested on IEEE-approved test systems and visualized with a force-directed technique on an undirected power network graph. The proposed BFA yields the same but better optimal PMU numbers, obtained by existing meta-heuristic optimization techniques found in the literature for each of the IEEE test cases, as well as highlighting the cost–benefit of having a robust system against single PMU loss while considering the ZIB effect for an improved system measurement availability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization Principles Applied in Planning and Operation of Active Distribution Networks)

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24 pages, 5776 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi Dimension-Based Optimal Allocation of Uncertain Renewable Distributed Generation Outputs with Seasonal Source-Load Power Uncertainties in Electrical Distribution Network Using Marine Predator Algorithm

by Nasreddine Belbachir, Mohamed Zellagui, Samir Settoul, Claude Ziad El-Bayeh and Ragab A. El-Sehiemy

Energies 2023, 16(4), 1595; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16041595 - 05 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1680

Abstract

In the last few years, the integration of renewable distributed generation (RDG) in the electrical distribution network (EDN) has become a favorable solution that guarantees and keeps a satisfying balance between electrical production and consumption of energy. In this work, various metaheuristic algorithms were implemented to perform the validation of their efficiency in delivering the optimal allocation of both RDGs based on multiple photovoltaic distributed generation (PVDG) and wind turbine distributed generation (WTDG) to the EDN while considering the uncertainties of their electrical energy output as well as the load demand’s variation during all the year’s seasons. The convergence characteristics and the results reveal that the marine predator algorithm was effectively the quickest and best technique to attain the best solutions after a small number of iterations compared to the rest of the utilized algorithms, including particle swarm optimization, the whale optimization algorithm, moth flame optimizer algorithms, and the slime mold algorithm. Meanwhile, as an example, the marine predator algorithm minimized the seasonal active losses down to 56.56% and 56.09% for both applied networks of IEEE 33 and 69-bus, respectively. To reach those results, a multi-objective function (MOF) was developed to simultaneously minimize the technical indices of the total active power loss index (APLI) and reactive power loss index (RPLI), voltage deviation index (VDI), operating time index (OTI), and coordination time interval index (CTII) of overcurrent relay in the test system EDNs, in order to approach the practical case, in which there are too many parameters to be optimized, considering different constraints, during the uncertain time and variable data of load and energy production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization Principles Applied in Planning and Operation of Active Distribution Networks)

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15 pages, 2723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Experimental Approach for Secondary Consensus Control Tuning for Inverter-Based Islanded Microgrids

by Gabriel Nasser Doyle de Doile, Pedro Paulo Balestrassi, Miguel Castilla, Antonio Carlos Zambroni de Souza and Jaume Miret

Energies 2023, 16(1), 517; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16010517 - 03 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1374

Abstract

A microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources that can fill the gap between the dependence on a bulk power grid and the transition to renewable energies. The islanded mode presents itself as the most interesting scenario, when local controllers should maintain the power quality standards based on several parameters. A tool specifically focused on the process of parameter tuning of the secondary consensus-based control for inverter-based islanded microgrids was proposed in this paper. One often-quoted drawback in this process is the great number of parameters that must be tuned, even for a very simple microgrid structure. To manage such a large number of parameters, the design of experiments was used in this study. The main motivation for this work was to present an optimized way to define the correct parameters for the secondary consensus control for inverter-based islanded microgrids. The study shows how experimental design methodology can be an efficient tool to tune microgrid parameters, which are typically multi-objective-based experiments. From the results, it is correct to state that the design of experiments is able to reach the optimal setting with a minimal number of experiments, which would be almost impossible to obtain with the trial-and-error method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization Principles Applied in Planning and Operation of Active Distribution Networks)

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Review

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19 pages, 451 KiB

Open AccessReview

Optimal Integration of Photovoltaic Systems in Distribution Networks from a Technical, Financial, and Environmental Perspective

by Jhony Guzman-Henao, Luis Fernando Grisales-Noreña, Bonie Johana Restrepo-Cuestas and Oscar Danilo Montoya

Energies 2023, 16(1), 562; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/en16010562 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1708

Abstract

Due to the increasing demand for electricity around the world, different technologies have been developed to ensure the sustainability of each and every process involved in its production, transmission, and consumption. In addition to ensuring energy sustainability, these technologies seek to improve some of the characteristics of power systems and, in doing so, make them efficient from a financial, technical, and environmental perspective. In particular, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is one of the power generation technologies that has had the most influence and development in recent years due to its easy implementation and low maintenance costs. Additionally, since PV systems can be located close to the load, power losses during distribution and transmission can be significantly reduced. However, in order to maximize the financial, technical, and environmental variables involved in the operation of an electrical system, a PV power generation project must guarantee the proper location and sizing of the generation sources. In the specialized literature, different studies have employed mathematical methods to determine the optimal location and size of generation sources. These methods model the operation of electrical systems and provide potential analysis scenarios following the deployment of solar PV units. The majority of such studies, however, do not assess the quality and repeatability of the solutions in short processing times. In light of this, the purpose of this study is to review the literature and contributions made in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization Principles Applied in Planning and Operation of Active Distribution Networks)

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