The number of residential consumers with solar PV and batteries, aka prosumers, has been increasing in recent years. Incentives now exist for prosumers to operate their batteries in more profitable ways than self-consumption mode. However, this can increase prosumer exports or imports, resulting in power flows that can lead to voltage and thermal limit violations in distribution networks. This work proposes a framework for Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to ensure the integrity of MV-LV networks by using dynamic operating limits for prosumers. Periodically, individual prosumers send their intended operation (net exports/imports) as determined by their local control to the DNO who then assesses network integrity using smart meter data and a power flow engine. If a potential violation is detected, their maximum operating limits are determined based on a three-phase optimal power flow that incorporates network constraints and fairness aspects. A real Australian MV feeder with realistically modelled LV networks and 4,500+ households is studied, where prosumers' local controls operate based on energy prices. Time-series results demonstrate that the proposed framework can help DNOs ensure network integrity and fairness across prosumers. Furthermore, it unlocks larger profitability for prosumers compared with the use the 5kW fixed export limit adopted in Australia.
In the context of active distribution networks, AC Optimal Power Flow (OPF) has shown great potential to calculate setpoints for controllable devices. Although considerable literature exists, temporal aspects that may affect the actual execution of these setpoints are rarely investigated. Due to the diverse operating characteristics of controllable devices (i.e., delays, ramp rates and deadbands), when these setpoints are executed by multiple devices without adequate considerations, the resulting outcome can differ drastically from what is expected; leading to violations of network constraints and excessive control actions. Therefore, this work proposes a series of necessary adaptations within the controllers of existing devices as well as in the OPF formulation to cater for the diversity in operating characteristics, ensuring that calculated setpoints are adequately implemented by controllable devices. This involves the direct control of conventional devices and enforcing a new ramping behavior for inverter-interfaced devices. Furthermore, a linear, mixedinteger formulation is proposed to handle discrete devices and improve scalability in large networks. Co-simulation results (using a UK test network with the objective of maximizing renewable energy production and considering 1s time-step) demonstrate that, by catering for the operating characteristics of controllable devices, the expected outcome from OPF-based setpoints can be achieved. Index Terms-Active distribution network, distributed generation, optimal power flow (OPF), implementation NOMENCLATURE Sets DG plants. Buses/nodes. Phases (electrical). ⊂ Sources. Lines. OLTC-fitted transformers. Π Tap positions of OLTCs. Constants/Parameters ̅ Rated capacity of DG plants.
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