Smart Distribution Network Situation Awareness for High-Quality Operation and Maintenance: A Brief Review

Advanced fault location method for three-terminal distribution lines using frequency characteristics and µPMU data

The urban distribution network contains a significant number of multi- or three-terminal connections. Fault location in such networks is severely constrained by the lack of necessary conditions for deploying measuring instruments at intermediate connection points and the presence of erroneous or missing distribution line characteristics. This study designs a fault determination time index by analyzing the changes in Micro-phasor measurement unit (µPMU) measurement data at end nodes when an unbalanced fault occurs in the distribution line. A fault localization model incorporating frequency parameters is proposed, considering the influence of source load variations and the regular fluctuations of the fundamental frequency, which affect the characteristics of the distribution lines. To enhance the model's accuracy and efficiency, a solution approach combining Simulated Annealing Algorithm and trust region methods is suggested, addressing the impact of the initial values on the fault localization model calculation process. A three-terminal distribution line model is constructed in Matlab, and various failure scenarios are simulated. Using these frequency values significantly improved the accuracy of the fault location model's estimation results, achieving accuracy more than three times higher than models that do not consider frequency. The fault distance estimation error is reduced to less than 50 m. And, the model's applicable fault scenario is increased to 2000Ω. The results demonstrate that the proposed technique significantly improves the calculation efficiency and accuracy of the fault location model, providing a robust solution for fault location and line parameter estimation in distribution networks.

Feasibility and techno-economic analysis of PV-battery priority grid tie system with diesel resilience: A case study

Ethiopia is close to the equator and has enormous potential as a solar energy resource that has yet to be realized. The country has some small-scale diesel-based power generation, and all universities and government agencies have installed standby generator sets for supplying power when the grid is interrupted. Ethiopia is a developing nation with a significant reliance on oil imports and insufficient rural electrification, which exacerbates the problem of poverty. The increased cost of oil, frequent hard currency expenditures for oil, and exaggerated maintenance costs for the generators are the main reasons to undertake this feasibility study. As the assessments show, the annual average interruption was more than 800 h in the past five years in the Debre Markos University distribution feeder. A preliminary study on the techno-economic feasibility of the existing diesel generator set and PV system with the same rated power of 500 kW is conducted in this work. As the break-even point of the economic comparison shows, the existing diesel generator is not economically feasible as compared to the proposed PV-battery priority grid tie system due to high running and service costs. The study also shows the technical feasibility of solar energy, as the P-V and I-V characteristic curves illustrated on a single standard solar module indicate. As the economic comparison break-even point shows, the diesel-based generator set is not economical after 5 years due to the high operational and maintenance costs. As the results show, the proposed PV/Battery Priority system with a diesel generator for resilience is more environmentally friendly, reducing the carbon footprint by 94%.

Low-carbon transformation planning of China's power energy system under the goal of carbon neutrality

China has become the largest energy producer and consumer in the world. Its carbon emissions account for 80% of its total carbon emissions, while the carbon emissions caused by energy consumption in the power industry account for more than 50%. To ensure that the 2030 carbon-peak and 2060 carbon-neutral targets are achieved, it is imperative to carry out low-carbon energy transformation in the power industry. The paper compares and analyzes the technical level of six high-energy-consuming industries: power, steel, cement, aluminum smelting, petrochemical industry, and coal chemical industry in terms of low carbon. The results show that the structural adjustment of China's high-energy-consuming industries has reached the upper limit, and the low-carbon transformation of power and energy has become inevitable. The carbon emissions of China's six regional power grids are statistically analyzed. The background of the power generation proportion of China's thermal power, hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, solar power and other different energy systems from 2018 to 2020 is analyzed, and the development trend is predicted. The low-carbon emission path of power energy is proposed. Based on the EnergyPLAN model, the power energy structure of carbon peaking in different scenarios from 2020 to 2030 is constructed, and the power energy system's carbon dioxide emission reduction paths under different scenarios are obtained. The sustainability impact of different power generation combination scenarios is comprehensively evaluated using the multi-index evaluation method, and the optimal path of the power system to energy scenario is selected. The research conclusion provides a basis for the power sector's renewable energy power generation path selection.

Situational Awareness for Smart Distribution Systems

In recent years, the accelerating climate change and intensifying natural disasters have called for more renewable, resilient, and reliable energy from more distributed sources to more diversified consumers, resulting in a pressing need for advanced situational awareness of modern smart distribution systems [...]

Development and Future Scope of Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems

 This review study attempts to summarize available energy storage systems in order to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. Inefficient energy storage systems have been shown to function as a deterrent to the implementation of sustainable development. It is therefore critical to conduct a thorough examination of existing and soon-to-be-developed energy storage technologies. Various scholarly publications in the fields of energy storage systems and renewable energy have been reviewed and summarized. Data and themes have been further highlighted with the use of appropriate figures and tables. Case studies and examples of major projects have also been researched to gain a better understanding of the energy storage technologies evaluated. An insightful analysis of present energy storage technologies and other possible innovations have been discovered with the use of suitable literature review and illustrations. This report also emphasizes the critical necessity for an efficient storage system if renewable energy is to be widely adopted.