Low-Voltage Distribution Network Reconfiguration Considering High Penetration of Electric Vehicles – A UK Case Study

Network reconfiguration is one of the electricity network optimization techniques for losses reduction and load balancing by changing the open-closed status of sectionalized switches. In this paper, an application of network reconfiguration in low-voltage (LV) domestic distribution network with high penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) is presented. Firstly, high resolution time-series domestic load profiles are generated and validated with measured data at substation. Electric vehicle charging profiles at both fast and slow charging modes are modelled and produced. Then the impact of increasing penetration of EVs on the network thermal and voltage constraints is quantified. To optimize the network topology, suitable locations of newly-installed switches and their operational time are identified by branch-exchange method and exhaustive search algorithm (ESA) due to the small size of network and less potential location. The proposed approach is applied to two practical 400V LV distribution networks interconnected by underground linkboxes which are used to provide back-feeds during routine maintenances or emergency conditions. By adding new sectionalized switches, the LV network will obtain more operational flexibility and could better explore its potential for further study under Smart Grid