A Novel Strategy for Distribution Network Reinforcement Planning considering the Firm Capacity of Distributed Generation Units

Network reinforcement strategy has a critical role for the success in the planning process of Distribution Network Operators (DNOs). Plans of reinforcements should indicate, in details, each necessary modification in the network. In several regulatory environments, DNOs are the unique responsible for their network reinforcements decisions. Thus, the plan of reinforcements should be adherent to forecasted power flow, that should predict which branches/substations will be in an overload situation or with inappropriate voltages levels. Therefore, DNOs need develop reinforcement planning methodologies to consider important aspects as the forecast of power consumed by loads and the forecast of power generated by distributed generation units (DGs). In the literature, there are several studies focused on forecasting of load/distributed generation and network reinforcement strategies. In these studies, DGs location/size were considered independent variable. In most cases, authors consider that DNOs have DGs possession. However, it is not true in some regulatory environments, in which DGs location/size cannot be controlled by DNOs. Since in these cases, DNOs still are the unique responsible for their network reinforcements decisions. In this context, this paper proposes a new network reinforcement strategy able to consider the power generated by DGs and their location/size as stochastic variables into the DNOs reinforcements plan, using the concept of DGs firm capacity. The proposed methodology allows to correlate the necessary modifications in the network (and consequently the monetary value of these modifications) with the level of confidence intended by DNOs planners.