Optimal truck-mounted mobile generators allocation to improve distribution network resilience using the consolidation index

Abstract

Electrical energy supply is a vital part of a modern network, so enhancing its resilience to natural hazards is of paramount importance. The present study aims to determine the number and capacity of truck-mounted mobile generators that can be utilized in electric power distribution networks to provide a certain level of resilience, taking into account the costs and revenues associated with their use. To this aim, a "consolidation index" is used, which is based on the "curve analysis index" and considers "cost (either of the type of investment or of the type of repairs imposed by the event)" and "lack of load supply (with critical and non-critical load separation)" simultaneously. Presenting a "decision curve" allows the planner or policymaker to perform the best by applying the amount of capital or budget at his/her disposal to improve a certain percentage of the resilience in the evaluated network. Finally, the effectiveness and efficiency results of the proposed method are shown in the modified IEEE 33-bus network.