Benchmarking of Smart Grid Conceptsin Low-Voltage Distribution Grids

Abstract: Due to increasing penetration of decentralized variable renewable energy generators and the increasing demand of electrical power due to the electrification of the heat and transport sectors, low voltage grids are facing critical problems. Deviation of the permitted voltage range and local overloads of the grid equipment, are the two main issues that are compromising a smooth distribution grid operation. An intelligent integration of distributed generators, heat-pumps and electric vehicles into a Smart Grid, allows the flexibility that they intrinsically provide, to be used by distribution system operators to avoid critical grid conditions. Smart grid suppliers currently available on the market, have been categorized into Local, Decentralized and Centralized Smart Grid Concepts. Their main difference is represented by the level of control, communication and coordination that they make use of. The aim of the thesis was to evaluate the effectiveness of solution of the Smart Grid Concepts implementation in specific low voltage grids, especially in term of voltages and loadings mitigation capabilities, to be used as a decision making tool for future smart grid implementations. A control architecture that emulates the way the analyzed Smart Grid Concepts operate, has been implemented in Python and tested on three different low voltage distribution networks in DigSILENT PowerFactory. The control architecture is an algorithm that communicates to DigSILENT PowerFactory how the Smart Grid needs to operate in response to detected critical grid conditions. The flexibility that the Smart Grid Concepts make use of, are battery storage, active power curtailment and reactive power compensation from photovoltaic inverters and demand side management by means of electric vehicles and heat pumps. In particular, in order to make most use of the available flexibility, an intelligent electric vehicles charging strategy has been implemented as well as an intelligent heat pump operation. Both static worst-case simulations and time-dependent simulations, over a winter and a summer day, for different penetration scenarios, have been carried out. The summary of the simulation results showed that while the Decentralized Smart Grid Concept, if the flexibility is available, is always able to keep voltages and loadings between their critical values, the Local Smart Grid Concept is not able to do the same for the loadings.