Voltage Control Methodologies in Active Distribution Networks

Valentin Ilea, Cristian Bovo, Davide Falabretti, Marco Merlo, Carlo Arrigoni, Roberto Bonera and Marco Rodolfi
Additional contact information
Valentin Ilea: Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20019 Milan, Italy
Cristian Bovo: Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20019 Milan, Italy
Davide Falabretti: Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20019 Milan, Italy
Marco Merlo: Energy Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20019 Milan, Italy
Carlo Arrigoni: Smart Infrastructure, Digital Grid, Siemens S.p.a., 20019 Milan, Italy
Roberto Bonera: Freelance Senior Analyst and Developer, 20019 Milano, Italy
Marco Rodolfi: Freelance Senior Analyst and Developer, 20019 Milano, Italy

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-32

Abstract: Renewable Energy Sources are becoming widely spread, as they are sustainable and low-carbon emission. They are mostly penetrating the MV Distribution Networks as Distributed Generators, which has determined the evolution of the networks’ control and supervision systems, from almost a complete lack to becoming fully centralized. This paper proposes innovative voltage control architectures for the distribution networks, tailored for different development levels of the control and supervision systems encountered in real life: a Coordinated Control for networks with basic development, and an optimization-based Centralized Control for networks with fully articulated systems. The Centralized Control fits the requirements of the network: the challenging harmonization of the generator’s capability curves with the regulatory framework, and modelling of the discrete control of the On-Load Tap Changer transformer. A realistic network is used for tests and comparisons with the Local Strategy currently specified by regulations. The proposed Coordinated Control gives much better results with respect to the Local Strategy, in terms of loss minimization and voltage violations mitigation, and can be used for networks with poorly developed supervision and control systems, while Centralized Control proves the best solution, but can be applied only in fully supervised and controlled networks.

Keywords: distributed generation; Distribution Management System; optimal power flow; voltage control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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