Reliability based Joint Distribution Network and Distributed Generation Expansion Planning

In this paper the reliability of distribution network is modeled in joint multistage expansion planning of distribution network assets and distributed generations (DGs). The imposed costs due to network reliability weakness are considerable in the distribution level. Therefore in the proposed model distribution network operator (DNO) considers the costs associated with load interruptions in the planning problem. In this regard, reliability evaluation of the network is modeled in the joint multistage distribution network expansion planning (MDNEP) problem in an integrated manner while the network topology is unknown until the planning problem is not solved. In the proposed joint MDNEP problem the investment plan of network assets including feeders, substations and transformers as well as DGs are jointly obtained. Involving the reliability costs in the joint MDNEP problem is based on linearized mathematical model for calculating reliability index of expected energy not served (EENS). Therefore the proposed model is formulated in the form of mixed integer linear programming (MILP) which can be efficiently solved using off-The-shelf software.