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Shared electric vehicle (EV) is an emerging component across interdependent power and transportation networks that affect economic, environmental and societal benefits. Studies on how to collaboratively enable the optimal planning of these interacted networks is less explored. In this work, a joint distribution network expansion planning framework integrated with a shared EV charging station is proposed. One of the objectives is to minimise overall investment cost considering operational waiting cost of shared EV charging service and power loss, while the other aims to maximise the utilisation of charging infrastructures. To overcome the difficulties in solving the multi‐objective mixed‐integer non‐linear problem, Tchebycheff decomposition based evolutionary algorithm is modified to find the Pareto front showing the trade‐offs between goals above. Besides, stochastic traffic assignment model is used to obtain traffic distribution and travel demand. The final optimal solution is decided by the fuzzy satisficing method. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated on a 54‐node test system. Sensitivity analysis is performed to assess the impact of key parameters from the perspectives of transportation and distribution network sectors. The numerical results demonstrate the capability and feasibility of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel scheme for fast detection of islanding events in a microgrid is proposed in this paper. The scheme consists of a passive islanding detection process using an adaptive ensemble classifier and measurements of three-phase voltage at the distributed generation (DG) terminals. Initial features inputs to the classifier are obtained using the phase-space method. They are then used to train an ensemble classifier which comprises a set of randomized neural networks called extreme learning machine (ELM). The optimal parameter settings for each ELM are identified through evolutionary computation. An adaptive decision mechanism is designed to progressively adjust the decision time of the events classification, where its decision speed can be significantly improved over existing methods. Extensive tests are conducted on a radial distribution system with two identical DG units and the IEEE 33-bus with four DG units, considering various scenarios of islanding and non-islanding conditions, as well as the different types of DG. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme can make accurate decisions at appropriately earlier times, which achieves a good balance between efficiency and accuracy in detecting the islanding events. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The integration of large‐scale renewable energy and demand response (DR) resources in smart grids have brought in emerging challenges for transmission expansion planning (TEP), particularly in terms of system security. The conventional TEP models have not fully addressed the cost and the feasibility of corrective control (CC) actions such as generation rescheduling and load curtailment under contingencies. Moreover, the optimality of CC depends on the pre‐contingency state, the post‐contingency state, as well as the existence and viability of the involved CC actions. In this study, first the authors have given the explicit definition of CC risk index (CCRI), which evaluates the expected system performance under a set of contingencies (i.e. risk of incurring security issues). With the authors' improvement, the CCRI is now mathematically tractable and may have wide applications to TEP problems. Afterwards, the authors have proposed a multi‐objective TEP framework with tradeoffs between cost and risk. A relatively new yet superior multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm called the multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA)/D is introduced and employed to find Pareto optimal solutions. The proposed model is numerically verified on the modified IEEE RTS 24‐bus and 118‐bus systems. According to the simulation results, the proposed model can provide information regarding variants of risks and coordinate the optimum planning and DR solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional approaches for measurement‐based load modelling uses measured voltage (V) as the input to calculate the load model output – P and Q powers. This assumes that the P and Q response is a function of V. In fact, there is an inherent interaction among the three variables (P, Q, and V) especially when motor load occupies a large proportion. With increased penetration of wind power, the fault‐induced dynamic voltage response is becoming a serious concern given the low‐voltage‐ride‐through (LVRT) requirement of wind turbines. This paper firstly shows that given different load model parameters, the V responses can vary significantly. Then, an improved method is proposed for more accurate measurement‐based load modelling. The proposed method incorporates the V response into the load model output, therefore is able to accurately reflect the dynamic voltage trajectories. Given the load model parameters, the system responses of P, Q, and V are all simulated via time‐domain simulations using industry‐grade software, and problem is to search the load model parameters to minimise the fitting error between the simulated and measured system responses. A trajectory sensitivity index is used to identify the well‐conditioned parameters, and a parallel‐differential evolutionary algorithm is designed to solve the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the battery energy storage system (BESS) has been considered as a promising solution for mitigating renewable power generation intermittencies. This study proposes a stochastic planning framework for the BESS in distribution networks with high wind power penetrations, aiming to maximise wind power utilisation while minimise the investment and operation costs. In the proposed framework, the uncertainties in wind power output and system load are modelled by the Monte–Carlo simulation, and a chance‐constrained stochastic optimisation model is formulated to optimally determine the location and capacity of BESS while ensuring wind power utilisation level. Then, the Monte–Carlo simulation embedded differential evolution algorithm is used to solve the problem. Simulation studies performed on a 15‐bus radial distribution system prove the efficiency of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Static compensators (STATCOMs) are able to provide rapid and dynamic reactive power support within a power system for voltage stability enhancement. While most of previous research focuses on only an either static or dynamic (short‐term) voltage stability criterion, this study proposes a multi‐objective programming (MOP) model to simultaneously minimise (i) investment cost, (ii) unacceptable transient voltage performance, and (iii) proximity to steady‐state voltage collapse. The model aims to find Pareto optimal solutions for flexible and multi‐objective decision‐making. To account for multiple contingencies and their probabilities, corresponding risk‐based metrics are proposed based on respective voltage stability measures. Given the two different voltage stability criteria, a strategy based on Pareto frontier is designed to identify critical contingencies and candidate buses for STATCOM connection. Finally, to solve the MOP model, an improved decomposition‐based multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm is developed. The proposed model and algorithm are demonstrated on the New England 39‐bus test system, and compared with state‐of‐the‐art solution algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short-term voltage stability is an increasing concern in today's power systems due to the growing penetration of induction motors. This paper proposes a systematic method for optimal placement of dynamic VAR support against short-term voltage instability. The problem is formulated as a multi-objective optimization model minimizing two conflicting objectives: 1) the total investment cost and 2) the expected unacceptable short-term voltage performance subject to a set of probable contingencies. STATCOM is employed for its stronger dynamic VAR support capability. Indices for quantifying the short-term voltage stability and the related risk level are proposed for problem modeling. Candidate buses are selected based on the concept of trajectory sensitivity. Load dynamics are fully considered using a composite load model containing induction motor and other typical components. A relatively new and superior multi-objective evolutionary algorithm called MOEA/D is introduced and employed to find the Pareto optimal solutions of the model. The proposed method is verified on the New England 39-bus system using industry-grade models and simulation tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrective security‐constrained optimal power flow (CSCOPF) considers the use of corrective control to remove system security violations in the post‐contingency state. Its optimality not only depends on the pre‐contingency state, but also the post‐contingency state as well as the involved corrective control actions. This study first gives a comprehensive review on the relevant OPF models and then proposes a hybrid method to solve the CSCOPF problem. It makes use of the evolutionary algorithms to randomly search the maximum feasible region and state‐of‐the‐art OPF solution technique (interior‐point method) to provide deterministic solutions in the found region. The two interact iteratively to progressively approach the final solution. The proposed method is verified on the IEEE 14‐bus and 118‐bus systems. Comparison studies show that (i) CSCOPF can better balance the security and economy and (ii) the hybrid method is overall superior (in solution quality, robustness and convergence characteristic) over the single evolutionary algorithm. Parallel processing is applied to speed‐up the computations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Event‐driven load shedding is an effective countermeasure against voltage collapse in power systems. Conventionally, its optimisation relies on sensitivity‐based linear methods, which, however, could suffer from unrealistic assumptions and sub‐optimality. In this study, an alternative approach based on parallel‐differential evolution (P‐DE) is proposed for efficiently and globally optimising the event‐driven load shedding against voltage collapse. Working in a parallel structure, the approach consists of candidate buses selection, voltage stability assessment (VSA) and DE optimisation. Compared with conventional methods, it fully considers the non‐linearity of the problem and is able to effectively escape from local optima and not limited to system modelling and unrealistic assumptions. Besides, any type of objective functions and VSA techniques can be used. The proposed approach has been tested on the IEEE 118‐bus test system considering two cases for preventive control and corrective control, respectively, and compared with the two existing methods. Simulation results have verified its effectiveness and superiority over the compared methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hybrid method combining classical deterministic programming technique and evolutionary algorithm (EA)-enhanced stochastic optimization strategy is proposed for more effective and flexible computation of transient stability-constrained optimal power flow (TSC-OPF). The method consists of searching the maximum TSC-feasible solution region with EA and deterministically optimizing an operating point in the found region via a conventional OPF solution. Stability constraints are exactly treated by a rigorous transient stability assessment (TSA) procedure, where complex system model and multi-contingency can be readily considered and stability margin is applied as the transient stability index (TSI) to avoid over-stabilizing. Benefiting from both the EA and the deterministic programming, the proposed method can continuously approach the global optima in a robust, reliable and fast-convergent way. The method is verified on the New England test system and a dynamic equivalent system of a real-world large power grid. Comparing with existing methods, it has provided more economic solutions and better adaptability to multi-swing instability and multi-contingency stabilizing. It can also be a unified approach for solving other stability constrained-OPFs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A response from the authors of the article "Solving Preventive-Corrective SCOPF by a Hybrid Computational Strategy" by Y. Zu and colleagues in the Volume 29, Number 3, May 2014 issue is presented.

• Study the vision of engaging networked data centers into distributed energy markets. • Propose a decision-making model to optimize the bidding decisions and energy resource operations of networked data centers in multiple geo-distributed local energy markets. • Conduct comprehensive numerical simulations to validate the benefit the cloud service provider can obtain from local energy markets. Active distribution network Internet Data Centers (IDCs) are large energy consumers in modern distribution networks. The integration of renewable energy and energy storage systems transforms IDCs into proactive energy prosumers, and enables them to participate in the energy trading in regional local energy markets. This paper proposes an energy management framework for a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) that manages multiple geographically distributed IDCs. The framework provides decision-making support for the CSP to optimally schedule the IDCs' cyber-energy resources (computing requests, on-site battery energy storage systems, and on-site renewable energy sources). In this way, the proposed framework facilitates the CSP to proactively participate in the local energy markets situated in the regions that host the IDCs, with the objective to minimize the CSP's total cost over a finite operation horizon. We use an effective evolutionary computation algorithm to solve the proposed energy management model and design extensive numerical simulations to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]