Distribution Network Expansion through Optimally Sized and Placed Distributed Energy Storage

Driven by their responsibility of meeting growing electricity demand and providing customers with reliable and cost effective service, electric utilities are continuously expected to expand their distribution networks. As a result, distribution network expansion models are needed to help electric utilities determine the optimal expansion plan that meets their operational requirements. These models, when applied to modern distribution networks, should be able to consider the installation of new technologies in the network, such as distributed energy storage (DES) while taking the system operational characteristics into consideration. This paper proposes a distribution network expansion planning model through optimally sized and placed DES. DES installation can potentially reduce the expansion cost by providing congestion relief and peak shaving services, improve the distribution network reliability, reduce the line losses, and enhance the system voltage profile. The proposed model is formulated using mixed integer linear programming (MIP) and tested on the standard IEEE 33-bus system.