Active network management in LV networks: a case study in the UK

Overall, low-carbon technologies can have a positive effect on distribution networks, however large clusters can result in severe negative impacts. These problems can be alleviated by redistributing power flows through network reconfiguration or by using power electronic devices to soft-mesh the radial lines. Whilst the first offers limited control due to a reduced number of possible open/close switch commands, the second offers greater flexibility and continuous management of the power but depends on a more complex control scheme.The present paper uses high-resolution data, obtained from real low-voltage substations and feeders, to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of these two strategies. Specifically, a conventional network reconfiguration approach is compared to an alternative, based on soft-open-points and high-level optimization. The findings show that whilst both methods offer similar benefits, considering present day scenarios, the approach based on power electronic converters becomes advantageous in the long-term, as the volume of low-carbon technologies increases.