PhD Defense - Zhe Chen - Integration of cost-based active management in distribution networks planning and operation

#RESintegration #PhDdefense #distributed #systems #grids #smart

Have you ever considered the broader implications of installing a PV-battery in your home or using an electric vehicle for daily commutes? While these changes might save on your monthly bills, they also have profound effects on our power systems. Electric vehicles, PVs, heat pumps, and other elements collectively form what we term as distributed energy resources (DER). But is the surge in DER integration a boon or bane for the power network? The answer is: both. Without strategic integration, DERs can lead to excessive consumption or generation, resulting in network congestion. However, when DERs are controlled and coordinated, they can enhance the system's flexibility. From a market standpoint, DERs supply flexibility services, and the distribution system operator (DSO) compensates for this service to mitigate congestion.

This research aims to aid the DSO in navigating challenges related to network congestion. The work delves into estimating the network state for nodes lacking measurements, pinpointing available system flexibility, and evaluating the impacts of flexibility services on network states. The study not only enhances estimation accuracy in networks with limited observability but also introduces a novel tool for DSOs to identify system flexibility at the substation level. Additionally, the research formulates a framework to understand the effects of capacity limitation services. The interaction between DER and DSO is pivotal, especially when the efficacy of flexibility services is occasionally constrained by DER availability or capacity, failing to meet DSO's expectations.

With the rising wave of digitization and DER integration, this research explores the ingenious utilization of DER to maintain power system security within the energy sector. Backed by real-world datasets and industrial network models, simulation results authenticate the findings.

The presented thesis is intended for both academic and industry audiences. Academics can derive insights from the cross-disciplinary literature analysis and the practical application of power system modeling analysis. Meanwhile, industry professionals can contemplate the significance of flexibility services during network congestion and gauge the implications of system flexibility amid the evolution of power systems.