Energy storage management strategy in distribution networks utilised by photovoltaic resources

Abstract

Large penetration of electrical energy storage (EES) units and renewable energy resources in distribution systems can help to improve network profiles (e.g. bus voltage and branch current profiles), and to reduce operational cost as well as power losses. On the other hand, unsecure system operation as a result of involving these units is another challenge to network operators. Therefore, establishing a trade-off between operational cost and security is very important. This study presents a new approach to determine the optimal charging/discharging schedule of EES units in distribution systems by employing multi-objective optimisation methods, which will effectively reduce operational cost and enhance distribution network security. In this regard, a voltage stability index (VSI) is converted into a security index to improve the radial network security. This VSI index is treated as a separate objective function, and a multi-objective strategy is implemented to obtain a set of non-dominated solutions instead of a single optimal solution, which simultaneously minimise both of the operational cost and security index. In order to assess the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed method, it is applied to IEEE standard 33-bus and 136-bus distribution test systems, and then the obtained results are compared with those of existing methodologies.