Multi-timescale Affinely Adjustable Robust Reactive Power Dispatch of Distribution Networks Integrated with High Penetration of PV

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation has highly penetrated in distribution networks, providing clean and sustainable energy. However, its uncertain and intermittent power outputs significantly impair network operation, leading to unexpected power loss and voltage fluctuation. To address the uncertainties, this paper proposes a multi-timescale affinely adjustable robust reactive power dispatch (MTAAR-RPD) method to reduce the network power losses as well as alleviate voltage deviations and fluctuations. The MTAAR-RPD aims to coordinate on-load tap changers (OLTCs), capacitor banks (CBs), and PV inverters through a three-stage structure which covers multiple timescales of “hour-minute-second”. The first stage schedules CBs and OLTCs hourly while the second stage dispatches the base reactive power outputs of PV inverter every 15 min. The third stage affinely adjusts the inverter reactive power output based on an optimized Q-P droop controller in real time. The three stages are coordinately optimized by an affinely adjustable robust optimization method. A solution algorithm based on a cutting plane algorithm is developed to solve the optimization problem effectively. The proposed method is verified through theoretical analysis and numerical simulations.