Steady-state security assessment in distribution systems with high penetration of distributed energy resources

Modern Electric Power Systems are evolving from a centralized generation model toward a complex infrastructure with the presence of Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The transformative changes are especially pronounced at the level of the distribution system. The emergence of new generation technologies as solar, for example, affects the customer profile, expansion planning, and operation procedures of distribution utilities. Therefore, this paper describes a new methodology based on steady-state security regions concept for the security assessment of distribution systems with the presence of DER. The main objective of the proposed methodology is to allow an effective evaluation of the operating conditions of distribution systems with high penetration of DER, focusing on the intermittence of the new generation resources. The proposed methodology has been tested using two distribution systems. The first one is a tutorial 13-bus system, which is a small tutorial feeder, and the second one is a real large-scale model of a distribution network. The results presented indicate the effectiveness of the proposed technique in the distribution system security analysis. The proposed methodology is implemented using the Python language and uses the OpenDSS software as a power flow solver.

Automated summary

This paper describes a new methodology for assessing the security of distribution systems with the presence of Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The methodology focuses on the intermittence of new generation resources and has been tested using both a tutorial 13-bus system and a real large-scale distribution network model. Results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed technique in distribution system security analysis.