Voltage-Triggered Flexibility Provision in a Distribution Network with Limited Observability

Abstract

Variable renewable energy sources (VRESs) are essential for decarbonizing the energy sector, but they introduce significant uncertainty into power grids. This uncertainty necessitates increased flexibility to ensure reliable and efficient grid operations, impacting both short-term strategies and long-term planning. Effective management of VRESs is particularly challenging for distribution system operators (DSOs) due to limited grid measurement and other data, complicating state estimation. This paper proposes a tractable framework that operates under low-observability conditions. The framework uses conservative linear approximations (CLAs) to manage grid constraints efficiently, requiring only the ranges of power injections typically available to operators. The objectives are twofold: first, to determine the amount and location of flexibility needed to prevent voltage violations and, second, to establish voltage measurement thresholds to trigger flexibility activation. Key contributions include the formulation of optimization problems to mitigate voltage issues, the introduction of flexibility provision triggered by voltage thresholds, and novel algorithms for determining flexibility and trigger points. The framework’s efficacy is demonstrated on IEEE 33-bus and UK 124-bus test systems, showing it can effectively mitigate grid voltage problems despite limited data.