A Comprehensive Methodology for Volt-VAR Optimization in Active Smart Grids

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive methodology for Volt-VAR Optimization in active smart grids, integrating control of switches, storage, and reactive devices within a stochastic, day-ahead operational framework to minimize power losses.

Contribution

It introduces a joint optimization model for active smart grid components, incorporating wind power stochasticity, and demonstrates its effectiveness through real-world data simulations.

Findings

Significant reduction in active power loss achieved.

Effective handling of wind power variability.

Validated on a real-world 33-node smart grid.

Abstract

This paper considers the problem of Volt-VAR Optimization (VVO) in active smart grids. Active smart grids are equipped with distributed generators, distributed storage systems, and tie-line switches that allow for topological reconfiguration. In this paper, the joint operation of the remotely controllable switches, storage units, under load tap changers, and shunt capacitors is formulated for a day-ahead operation scheme. The proposed VVO problem aims at minimizing the expected active power loss in the system and is formulated as a mixed-integer quadratic program. The stochasticity of the wind power generation is addressed through a first-order Markov chain model. Numerical results on a 33-node, 12.66 kV active smart grid using real data from smart meters and wind turbines are presented and compared for various test cases.