Bi-level planning-operation model of PV considering reactive power capability

The voltage violation is a significant issue in distribution networks, which impacts the operation of networks and users. The inverter-based photovoltaic (PV), which can be used for reactive power dispatch, may be a possible solution to address the issue, especially in the network with high PV penetration. However, there are three challenges for utilizing PV to improve voltage quality, including the planning, operation, and reactive power pricing of PV. Therefore, a bi-level planning-operation model of PV is proposed considering its reactive power capability. This study provides the following contributions. First, an upper planning level model is established, aiming to obtain the optimal planning scheme to effectively improve the economic benefits for PV investor and technical performances for distribution system operator. Second, a lower operation level model is developed to mitigate voltage violations and reduce network loss cost in multi-scenarios. Finally, a reactive power pricing model is designed, which is integrated into the upper planning level, to maximum the profit of all the participants. The simulation results on the modified IEEE 33-bus test system show that, the application of the proposed method guarantees the voltage for all the buses are within the qualified range, and increases the economic benefits for each participant by more than 7 % compared to conventional methods. This finding highlights the superior performances of the proposed method and its contribution to promote the sustainable development of renewable energy.