Methods and systems for determining distribution grid hosting capacity

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory having computer-executable instructions encoded thereon;
• and
• a processor functionally coupled to the memory and configured, by the computer-executable instructions, to cause the apparatus to:
• identify a topology and of a radial distribution grid, wherein the topology of the radial distribution grid comprises a plurality of distribution buses and a plurality of distributed generators;
• identify, based on the topology, a set of performance parameters for the radial distribution grid;
• determine, based on the set of performance parameters, one or more voltage magnitude deviations associated with a point of interest of the radial distribution grid and one or more distribution buses of the plurality of distribution buses and one or more phase angle deviations associated with the point of interest and the one or more distribution buses;
• determine, based on the one or more voltage magnitude deviations and based on the one or more voltage phase angle deviations, real power flows and reactive power flows;
• determine, based on the real power flows and the reactive power flows, a lossless power flow model for the radial distribution grid;
• determine, based on the lossless power flow model, a maximum hosting capacity of the radial distribution grid;
• determine, based on the maximum hosting capacity and the set of performance parameters, an optimal number of distributed generators that the radial distribution grid can host, wherein the optimal number of distributed generators is a value such that the set of performance parameters will be met;
• and
• causing a placement of the optimal number of distributed generators at one or more locations associated with at least one distribution bus of the plurality of distribution buses.

A method comprising:

• identifying, by a computing device, a topology of a radial distribution grid, wherein the topology of the radial distribution grid comprises a plurality of distribution buses and a plurality of distributed generators;
• identifying, based on the topology, a set of performance parameters for the radial distribution grid;
• determining, based on the set of performance parameters, one or more voltage magnitude deviations associated with a point of interest of the radial distribution grid and one or more distribution buses of the plurality of distribution buses and one or more phase angle deviations associated with the point of interest and the one or more distribution buses;
• determining, based on the one or more voltage magnitude deviations based on the one or more voltage phase angle deviations, real power flows and reactive power flows;
• determining, based on the real power flows and the reactive power flows, a lossless power flow model for the radial distribution grid;
• determining, based on the lossless power flow model, a maximum hosting capacity for each of the plurality of distribution buses and an aggregate hosting capacity of the radial distribution grid, wherein the aggregate hosting capacity is a summation of the maximum hosting capacity for each of the plurality of distribution buses;
• determining, based on the maximum hosting capacity and the aggregate hosting capacity, an optimal number of distributed generators that the radial distribution grid can host, wherein the optimal number of distributed generators is a value such that the set of performance parameters will be met;
• and
• causing a placement of the optimal number of distributed generators at one or more locations associated with at least one distribution bus of the plurality of distribution buses.