Analysing the Degree of Meshing in Medium Voltage Target Grids - An Automated Technical and Economical Impact Assessment

TL;DR

This paper introduces an automated methodology to evaluate and compare the technical and economic performance of various medium voltage grid concepts, demonstrating its application on real-world data to inform optimal grid design.

Contribution

It presents a novel automated approach for planning and comparing medium voltage grid structures considering technical constraints and costs, validated on extensive real-world data.

Findings

Radial grid structures are most cost-efficient overall.

Automated methodology enables large-scale grid concept evaluation.

Results support radial grids as optimal even with high distributed generation.

Abstract

There are different MV grid concepts with regard to mode of operation and protection system layout. The increasing installation of DG raises the question if the currently used concepts are still optimal for future power systems. We present a methodology that allows the automated calculation and comparison of target grids within different concepts. Specifically, we consider radial grids, closed ring grids and grids with switching stations. A target grid structure is optimized for each of those grid concepts based on geographical information. To model a realistic planning process, compliance with technical constraints for normal operation, contingency behaviour and reliability figures are ensured in all grid concepts. We present a multiphase approach to solve the optimization problem based on an iterated local search meta-heuristic. We then economically compare the grids with regards to CAPEX and OPEX for primary and secondary equipment, to analyse which concept leads to the most overall cost-efficient target grids. Since the methodology allows an automated evaluation of a large number of grids, it can be used to draw general conclusions about the cost-efficiency of specific concepts. The methodology is applied to 44 real MV grids spanning about 4800km of lines, for which the results show that a radial grid structure is overall cost efficient compared to grid topologies with switching stations or closed rings even in grid areas with a large DG penetration. The contribution of this paper is threefold: first, a comprehensive methodology to compile automated target grid plans under realistic premises is presented. Second, the practical applicability of the approach is demonstrated with a large scale case study with a high degree of automation. And third, the results of the case study allow to draw conclusions about the techno-economical differences of different MV grid concepts.