Demand Response-Based Voltage Regulation in Distribution Networks

Voltage control of distribution networks is one of the main tasks for network operators. Integrating high levels of renewable energy resources into power networks may cause many challenges on system operation. The traditional voltage control devices may fail to handle voltage control problems. With the development of the new technologies for the future networks (i.e. the controllable reactive power devices and demand response programs), it is possible to introduce an efficient control variable for voltage control. Thus, this work presents a technique for voltage control in distribution networks based on demand response and reactive power injection by the end-users. An optimization technique is performed to achieve the voltage control. The optimization technique aims to minimize the cost (i.e. the change in reactive power injection and demand curtailment) and the deviation in system voltages while fulfilling the network requirements. The standard IEEE 123–bus is used for this purpose. The results demonstrate that demand response programs and reactive power injections by end-users can successfully regulate the network voltages.