An Efficient Modular Optimization Scheme for Unbalanced Active Distribution Networks With Uncertain EV and PV Penetrations

Integrated control strategies with Network Reconfiguration (NR), Demand Response (DR), and voltage control can reduce peak demand, energy loss, and system-wide unbalances in modern three-phase active Electric Distribution Networks (EDNs). However, simultaneous handling of these strategies is computationally complex and challenging. This paper presents a stochastic optimization formulation that slices the problem, solves the sub-problems separately, and splices them back to find optimal solutions efficiently. At the outset, all constraint-violating configurations are eliminated using a graph-theory-based edge traversal search developed from the classic Knuth’s Algorithm-S. Subsequently, deploying suitable indices, cyclic NR-DR assignments are performed to find near-optimal topologies and load schedules concerning the minimum loss, peak load, and unbalances. Further, Voltage Regulators (VRs) are set to achieve loss and unbalance reduction with minimal tap operations. The proposed scheme is tested on the modified IEEE 123-node test feeder with extensive EV and PV penetrations. The results show that this modular scheme provides superior solutions with an almost 75% reduction in time than the conventional co-optimization method. Various other case studies illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.