Abstract
Electric power distribution networks plays a significant role in providing continuous electrical energy to different categories of customers. In the context of the present advancements, future load expansion in the active distribution networks (ADNs) poses the key challenge of planning to be derived as a multi-stage optimization task, including the optimal expansion planning scheme optimization (EPSO). The planning scheme optimization is a multi-attribute decision-making issue with high complexity and solving difficulty, especially when it involves a large-scale planning zone. This paper proposes a novel approach of a multi-year planning scheme for the effective solution of the EPSO problem in large planning zones. The proposed approach comprises three key parts, where the first part covers two essential aspects, i.e., (i) suggesting a project condition set that considers the elements directly related to a group of specific conditions and requirements (collectively referred to as conditions) to ADN planning projects; and (ii) Developing a condition scoring system to evaluate planning projects. The second part of our proposed scheme is a quantization method of correlativity among projects based on two new concepts: contribution index (CI) and dependence index (DI). Finally, considering the multi-year rolling optimization, a detailed mathematical model of condition evaluation and spatiotemporal optimization sequencing of ADN planning projects is developed, where the evaluation and optimization are updated annually. The proposed model has been successfully validated on a practical distribution network located in Xiantao, China. The investigated case study and comparisons verify the various advantages, suitability, and effectiveness of the proposed planning scheme, consequently saving more than 10% of the investment compared with the existing implemented scheme.
Highlights
The distribution network is an essential subpart of the power system, which takes the electric power from transmission lines and makes it available for customer’s utilization
The multi-year expansion planning in active distribution networks (ADNs) is a multi-stage optimization task to be solved optimally. It consists of three stages: the investigation of load growth and distributed generation expansion over the planning period in the planning zone, the design of annual expansion planning schemes coordinated with the previous distribution networks, and the expansion planning scheme optimization (EPSO)
In line with the emerging trend of distribution network planning optimization in large zones, this paper proposes a novel approach of a multi-year optimal planning scheme as well as the new concepts of boundary conditions, dominant conditions, and correlation between projects
Summary
The distribution network is an essential subpart of the power system, which takes the electric power from transmission lines and makes it available for customer’s utilization. The planning problem of the electric power system was addressed in reference [21] and proposed a hierarchical decision-making structure considering economic attributes, technical attributes, environmental attributes, and regional primary energy attributes. To address the above-stated challenges, this paper focuses on EPSO and proposes a novel method for multi-year planning considering the various features including evaluation, time and locality prioritization, and optimal scheduling of ADN planning projects. (4) Environmental protection requirements: During the planning, design, construction, and transformation of the distribution network, the needs of energy-saving, loss reduction, and ecological protection shall be met, including but not limited to the selection of energy-saving equipment, the implementation of loss reduction measures, the optimization of the network structure, the rational allocation of reactive power compensation equipment and the taking of necessary prevention and control measures for noise, electromagnetic environment, wastewater, and other pollution factors. Through preliminary decoupling, the boundary conditions and the dominant conditions are summarized
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