A receding-horizon OPF for active network management

To be able to integrate significant levels of dispersed renewable energy generation (DG) into rural distribution networks, the conventional `fit-and-forget´ approach will have to be evolved into a `connect-and-actively-manage´ system using Active Network Management techniques. Coordinated scheduling and control of DG and network assets can avoid having to constrain renewable capacity and significantly increase energy production and economic performance of DG in weak or congested networks. This paper proposes a time-dependent receding-horizon OPF technique for the `pseudo-real time´ scheduling of network control set-points to better integrate DG into previously passive areas of distribution networks. The methodology demonstrates the potential for real time reconfigurable autonomous network control over windows of previously problematic network power flows. Modelling of the realtime controller application is performed through a purpose-built pseudo-real time distribution network simulator.