Exploring the Use of an ADMM-Based Three-Phase AC OPF in PV-Rich MV-LV Networks

Although the AC optimal power flow (OPF) has shown great potential for operating distribution networks, its formulation as a single problem might not be scalable (solvable fast enough to be relevant). This is exacerbated by the added complexity when multiple voltage levels and the unbalanced nature of distribution networks are considered. Distributed solution algorithms can help by breaking down a single OPF problem into multiple smaller problems. This paper explores the use of a three-phase AC OPF, solved in a distributed fashion by adopting the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) algorithm, to manage residential PV systems in MV-LV distribution networks. The performance of the ADMM-based OPF is assessed using a test MV-LV feeder and compared with the conventional approach (solved as a single problem). Results show that the proposed algorithm is accurate, suggesting it has the potential to outperform the conventional approach when handling large-scale distribution networks.