Smart Network Planning—Pareto Optimal Phase Balancing for LV Networks via Monte-Carlo Simulations

In this chapter, a user-defined tool to minimise the voltage unbalance caused by unsymmetrical loads and generators is presented. It provides the user with a set of switching actions to improve the power distribution over the three phases. The tool uses the phase connection information provided for example by the automated meter infrastructure and uses a Monte-Carlo-based search to identify the lowest voltage unbalance reachable for a given number of phase-switching actions. By doing this, the Pareto principle can be used, and the user can decide on the necessary number of switching actions and therefore on the efforts needed and justified to improve the situation. The tool, which is implemented via Python scripts, is easily accessible to the user via the user-defined button.