Regulation impact on distribution systems with distributed generation

Abstract

Distribution system operators (DSOs) are facing new challenges when more distributed generation (DG) is connected to the network. In this new operating environment the DSO has to be able to plan an efficient network topology, which consists of reinforcement and extensions. In addition, the DSO has to finance the investment from tariffs. The methods to solve network planning problems are reviewed in this paper. The studied network planning problem is the case when the DSO has no influence on the location of DG due to the unbundling between DSOs and production. Furthermore, the regulation for how the DSOs are allowed to design the tariffs in systems with DG vary between countries, a comparison of how the DSOs design their tariffs under different regulations is presented. This paper ends with a case study on methods that Swedish DSOs use to plan the networks when considering the uncertainties caused by wind power and the regulation impact on distribution network planning and network tariffs in Sweden.