Multi-Timescale Coordinated Voltage/Var Control of High Renewable-Penetrated Distribution Systems

This paper proposes a multi-timescale coordinated stochastic voltage/var control method for high renewable-penetrated distribution networks. It aims to utilize multiple devices to counteract uncertain voltage fluctuation and deviation. In the hourly timescale (first stage), capacitor banks and transformer tap changers are scheduled before stochastic renewable output and load variations are realized. In the 15-min timescale (second stage), inverters that interface the renewable energy resources provide var support to supplement the first-stage decision after uncertainty is observed. The coordination is model as a two-stage stochastic programming problem with scenario reduction. It is then converted to a deterministic mixed-integer quadratic programming equivalence model and solved by commercial solvers combined. Compared with existing methods, the proposed volt/var control can achieve lower expected energy loss and can sustain a secure voltage level under random load demand and renewable power injection. The proposed method is verified on the IEEE 33-bus distribution network and compared with existing practices. © 2012 IEEE.