Comprehensive distribution network expansion plannig: A dynamic approach

The advances in clean energy technologies have made the renewable resources more attractive for distribution network operators as they are inexhaustible and non-polluting. In this paper, a comprehensive dynamic distribution network expansion planning (DDNEP) is proposed which takes into account most of the planning alternatives along with renewable and non-renewable distributed generation (DG). The proposed approach considers both investment and operational costs. The uncertainties regarding the intermittent nature of renewable DGs, load demand, and energy price are regarded in calculating the cost components. For a precise calculation of operation and interruption costs, the load duration curve (LDC) has been used for the loads. Moreover, the possibility of islanding and load transferring through the reserve feeders have been regarded in to improve the network reliability. In numerical study, a combination of genetic algorithm (GA) and optimal power flow (OPF) is employed to solve the integrated problem in 54-bus test system. The simulation results verify the efficiency of the proposed approach.