Automated Network Reinforcement including a Model for an Asset Management Strategy

The aim of network expansion planning is to ensure power quality for customers at viable costs, even with increasing feed-in from distributed generators (DGs). In order to develop long-term planning strategies that consider possible scenarios of additional DG installation, an automated network expansion planning tool has been developed at the Fraunhofer IWES in cooperation with the University of Kassel. Another task of a distribution system operator (DSO) is the preservation of the network structure and value through asset management. In order to optimize the cost of planning, renewal and maintenance, this paper presents a simplified approach for the integration of an asset management strategy within the automated network expansion planning tool. The integrated approach redefines the cost to be minimized using a residual value model that punishes the replacement of recently installed lines and rewards the replacement of old lines. It is shown at the example of a real MV network that this approach can create additional value for a DSO.