Optimal medium-voltage distribution grid planning with active integration of flexibility

Distribution grid planning is facing increasing pressure due to the growing integration of new electrical loads such as heat pumps and battery electric vehicles. The associated increase in demand particularly affects medium-voltage grids. At the same time, these loads offer new opportunities for demand-side flexibility, which has so far been insufficiently considered in existing planning methods. This work therefore presents a planning approach that systematically integrates demand-side flexibility into strategic medium-voltage grid planning. To this end, grid reinforcement measures and the use of flexibility as an operational planning option are modeled within a common decision space. The target grid is then determined using mixed-integer linear programming (MILP). The results of two case studies for an urban and a rural distribution grid show that expansion costs can be significantly reduced through the targeted use of flexibility. Furthermore, considering operational flexibility enables grid expansion measures to be postponed over time. This allows the resources required for grid expansion, particularly human resources, to be used more efficiently.

Subjects

Active planning

Distribution grid planning

Flexibility

Grid expansion

Medium-voltage grid planning

Optimization

DDC Class

621.3: Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering

Funding(s)

Norddeutsches Reallabor, Teilvorhaben: Integrierte Netzplanung

Options

Optimal medium-voltage distribution grid planning with active integration of flexibility