Modern distribution network planning and application to development of electricity infrastructure

Modern distribution network planning and application to development of electricity infrastructure

The Network Planners face significant challenges in planning and development of electricity networks. These challenges are driven by different factors. The most influential factors are change of economic environment and regulation models, climate and weather patterns, implementation of new technologies, multiple customer choice and transition of distribution networks from passive to active and more sustainable models.

In the last few years we have seen dramatic changes in the network nature, its topology and load management options. Parallel with intensive load growth, different energy supply models are evolving forcing distribution planners to accommodate new techniques and planning methodologies to simulate and efficiently plan future networks.
The modern Distribution Network Planning implements combination of traditional network planning options and so called non-network solutions. Advance load forecasting techniques and simulation of network dynamics based on different topologies, variable system regimes and load categories with detail network and project risk assessments are its core components. It also includes study of network demand management, smart grids, distributed energy resources (DER), embedded generation, energy storage equipment and grid support systems. Modelling of impact on distribution High (HV) and Low (LV) networks of photovoltaic (PV) units and other renewable, alternative and new technologies is now an organic part of distribution planning processes, as well as understanding of all aspects of massive penetration of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) in electricity network which is expected in near future.

This Master Dissertation firstly formulates position of the Distribution Network Planning in the business model of the majority of electricity utilities and interfaces with numerous stakeholders and describes fundamental components of distribution planning principles.

In the next step, it describes limitations of existing distribution planning principles and after the revision of available literature provides concept of new distribution planning principles to meet future technical, economical, technological, environmental and loading challenges.

The critical network planning components are also studied. Principles of load forecasting, plant rating, voltage regulation management, system reliability, power quality, network power losses, renewable and smart grid scenarios followed by project and network risk assessment and project economic evaluation are demonstrated.

Finally modern distribution planning principles are applied in a real distribution network augmentation project related to long term planning of the airport electricity infrastructure. This Master Dissertation uses the airport only as an example application and addresses the examiner’s comments.