Demand response in low voltage distribution networks with high PV penetration

In this paper, application of demand response to accommodate maximum PV power in a low-voltage distribution network is discussed. A centralized control based on model predictive control method is proposed for the computation of optimal demand response on an hourly basis. The proposed method uses PV generation and load forecasts, network topology and market price signals as inputs, limits of network voltages, line power flows, transformer loading and demand response dynamics as constraints to find the required demand response at each time step. The proposed method can be used by the DSOs to purchase the required flexibility from the electricity market through an aggregator. The optimum demand response enables consumption of maximum renewable energy within the network constraints. Simulation studies are conducted using Matlab and DigSilent Power factory software on a Danish low-voltage distribution system. Simulation results show that the proposed method is effective for calculating the optimum demand response. From the test scenarios, it is inferred that absorption of renewable energy from PV increased by 38% applying optimum demand response during the evaluation period in the studied distribution network.