Creation of the Italian Distribution System Scenario by Using Synthetic Artificial Networks

In future power systems the resources connected at the distribution level will become increasingly important from the energy mix and flexibility reserve point of views. The additional renewable generation, particularly photovoltaic, will be mostly located at the distribution level. The same can be also expected for electric loads, which will increase due to the spread of electric vehicles and electric heat pumps. The distribution system operators have different options in order to face these transformations. The possible solutions range from the classical network reinforcements to the adoption of advanced control solutions. In order to determine the best approach from an economic, regulatory and technical point of view, extensive simulations have to be performed on a large number of real distribution networks. However, the network data of real distribution networks are not usually public. This paper shows how a method for generating synthetic networks can be integrated with available public data in order to obtain realistic distribution network models of a specific area. The approach is used to reproduce the distribution networks of the Italian power system, modelling their electrical structure and the connected loads and generators. These networks can be used to investigate scenarios of future development of distribution networks.