As the amount of distributed generation (DG) is growing worldwide the need to increase the hosting capacity of distribution systems without reinforcements is becoming nowadays a major concern. This paper explores how the DG hosting capacity of active distribution systems can be increased by means of network reconfiguration, both static, i.e., grid reconfiguration at planning stage, and dynamic, i.e., grid reconfiguration using remotely controlled switches as an active network management (ANM) scheme. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer, nonlinear, multi-period optimal power flow (MP-OPF) which aims to maximize the DG hosting capacity under thermal and voltage constraints. This work further proposes an algorithm to break-down the large problem size when many periods have to be considered. The effectiveness of the approach and the significant benefits obtained by static and dynamic reconfiguration options in terms of DG hosting capacity are demonstrated using a modified benchmark distribution system.
Evaluating the technical impacts associated with connecting distributed generation to distribution networks is a complex activity requiring a wide range of network operational and security effects to be qualified and quantified. One means of dealing with such complexity is through the use of indices that indicate the benefit or otherwise of connections at a given location and which could be used to shape the nature of the contract between the utility and distributed generator. This paper presents a multiobjective performance index for distribution networks with distributed generation which considers a wide range of technical issues. Distributed generation is extensively located and sized within the IEEE-34 test network, wherein the multiobjective performance index is computed for each configuration. Results are presented and discussed.
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