Abstract
This paper presents an integrated approach for assessing the impact that distributed energy resources (DERs), including intermittent photovoltaic (PV) generation, might have on the reliability performance of power networks. A test distribution system, based on a typical urban MV and LV networks in the UK, is modelled and used to investigate potential benefits of the local renewable generation, demand-manageable loads and coordinated energy storage. The conventional Monte Carlo method is modified to include time-variation of electricity demand profiles and failure rates of network components. Additionally, a theoretical interruption model is employed to assess more accurately the moment in time when interruptions to electricity customers are likely to occur. Accordingly, the impact of the spatio-temporal variation of DERs on reliability performance is quantified in terms of the effect of network outages. The potential benefits from smart grid functionalities are assessed through both system- and customer-oriented reliability indices, with special attention to energy not supplied to customers, as well as frequency and duration of supply interruptions. The paper also discusses deployment of an intelligent energy management system to control local energy generation-storage-demand resources that can resolve uncertainties in renewable-based generation and ensure highly reliable and continuous supply to all connected customers.
Highlights
The “smart grid” concept generally denotes a flexible electricity network, capable of providing different services and functionalities, such as improved control and balancing of power flows, or enhanced fault protection
This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the potential reliability performance improvements
This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the potential reliability performance improvements from the implementation of three smart grid distributed energy resources (DERs) functionalities: PV-generation, energy storage (ES)
Summary
The “smart grid” concept generally denotes a flexible electricity network, capable of providing different services and functionalities, such as improved control and balancing of power flows, or enhanced fault protection. Due to requirements for supply sustainability, renewable energy resources (RERs) will be instrumental in realising changes to planning and operation of power systems, culminating in significant economic and environmental benefits. [13] focuses on minimizing lifetime, energy and load-loss costs Despite these developments, there is a need to more accurately quantify the impact of these stochastically-behaving local PV solutions on reliability performance and assess their direct implications on supply continuity and, importantly, customer “willingness-to-pay”. ES systems are modelled in a highly distributed configuration, i.e. as the small-size ES operating together with the local PV-based MG units This is assumed to be a typical smart grid configuration in e.g., residential applications, and this paper demonstrates that these applications can be designed and implemented to improve reliability performance and, in doing so, provide financial benefits to their owners and system operators.
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