Comparison of Optimal Power Flow Formulations in Active Distribution Grids
Date Issued
October 2020
Abstract
Active Distribution Networks (DNs) are expected
to host an increasing number of Distributed Generators (DGs)
and other Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), offering new
flexible sources and enabling the provision of ancillary services
to system operators. Centralized DER controls that use Optimal
Power Flow (OPF) methods necessitate tractable and scalable
computational tools that can handle large DNs with satisfactory
performance. In this paper, we compare an iterative OPF method
against the standard exact AC OPF calculations in terms of
the computational effort and solution quality. Furthermore, we
highlight the suitability of the selected formulation to offer
voltage support (VS) as an ancillary service to the transmission
network. The results are demonstrated using a joint medium
and low voltage grid, and show that tractable OPF formulations
can unlock financial business cases for DNs that can actively
participate in VS schemes.
to host an increasing number of Distributed Generators (DGs)
and other Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), offering new
flexible sources and enabling the provision of ancillary services
to system operators. Centralized DER controls that use Optimal
Power Flow (OPF) methods necessitate tractable and scalable
computational tools that can handle large DNs with satisfactory
performance. In this paper, we compare an iterative OPF method
against the standard exact AC OPF calculations in terms of
the computational effort and solution quality. Furthermore, we
highlight the suitability of the selected formulation to offer
voltage support (VS) as an ancillary service to the transmission
network. The results are demonstrated using a joint medium
and low voltage grid, and show that tractable OPF formulations
can unlock financial business cases for DNs that can actively
participate in VS schemes.
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