CAREER: A Hierarchical Restructuring Operation Framework for Sustainable and Resilient Electricity Distribution Systems

为响应提高社会抵御和从重大自然或人为灾难性事件中恢复的能力的迫切需要，社区微电网旨在为关键服务提供可持续和有弹性的电力供应。随着社区微电网和分布式能源的日益普及，配电系统正在从传统的由单一公用事业运营的被动径向网络转变为具有多个自主实体的更复杂的主动网络拓扑。配电系统的这种转变导致需要重塑电力服务的交付方式以及配电系统的设计和管理方式。为了应对这些挑战，该CAREER项目将研究新的方法，对社区微电网扩散的新兴配电系统的不同特征进行综合建模，并探索提高配电系统可持续性和弹性的最佳运营策略。具体而言，提出了一个指导配电系统和社区微电网优化运行与协调的双层分层结构框架，重点研究了基本的市场清算机制和有效的计算工具。本研究结果可为未来完全开放的零售分销市场及相关能源政策的优化设计提供参考，并可引导微玩家型电力产消者（生产者-消费者）在分销级市场的积极参与。研究工作将辅以一项教育和外联计划，目的是提高公众对配电系统改组的复杂性的认识和了解，并培养具备所需技能的下一代劳动力，以满足电力工业的需要。个体自治实体的物理可行性和财务可行性是配电系统重组和零售电力市场成功实施的关键。本项目将通过五项综合研究和教育活动来解决这些挑战，即：(i)基于综合不平衡三相交流最优潮流模型和高效计算方法，探索配电系统运营商的市场运作和定价机制。提出的分相节点配电位置边际定价概念能有效激励各配电客户在零售电力市场的持续参与；（二）基于三相非平衡交流机组综合承诺模型和高效计算方法，研究社区微电网运营商的市场运行和定价机制。提出的分阶段节点社区位置边际定价概念能够有效协调并网和孤岛运营模式下的异质社区合作伙伴，激励其持续参与社区微电网。研究了典型社区微电网合作伙伴的灵活性，以指导其在社区微电网中的战略投标；通过提出的模型和计算方法解决主要的研究问题，以进一步促进配电系统改组的实施；在模拟和现实系统模型中验证拟议的研究；探索新出现的配电系统和社区微电网可持续运作和有效改组所需的知识和技能，并调查改造现有电力工程方案和课程的教育和培训需要。

In response to the urgent need to improve societal capabilities to withstand and recover from major natural or man-made catastrophic events, community microgrids are designed to provide sustainable and resilient electric energy supply for critical services. With increased penetration of community microgrids and distributed energy resources, distribution systems are transforming from traditionally passive radial networks operated by a single utility to more sophisticated active networked topologies with multiple autonomic entities. This transformation in distribution systems has resulted in a need to reshape the way electricity services are delivered and distribution systems are designed and managed. To address these challenges, this CAREER project will investigate new approaches for comprehensive modeling of distinct characteristics of emerging distribution systems with a proliferation of community microgrids, and explore optimal operation strategies for enhancing the sustainability and resiliency of distribution systems. Specifically, a two-tier hierarchical restructuring framework is proposed for guiding the optimal operation and coordination of distribution systems and community microgrids, with special focus on investigating fundamental market clearing mechanisms and efficient computation tools. Results from this research could facilitate the optimal design of future fully liberalized retail distribution markets and related energy policies, and guide the active participation of microplayer-like electricity prosumers (producer-consumers) in such distribution-level markets. The research efforts will be complemented by an education and outreach plan aimed at increasing public awareness and understanding of the complexity of distribution systems restructuring, and to prepare the next generation workforce with needed skills to meet the needs of the power industry.Both physical feasibility and financial viability of individual autonomic entities are key to the successful implementation of distribution system restructuring and retail electricity markets. This project will address such challenges via five integrated research and educational activities, namely: (i) Exploring market operation and pricing mechanisms for distribution system operators based on comprehensive unbalanced three-phase alternating current optimal power flow models and efficient computation methods. The proposed per-phase nodal distribution locational marginal pricing concept can effectively incentivize the continued participation of various distribution customers in retail electricity markets; (ii) Investigating market operation and pricing mechanisms for community microgrid operators based on comprehensive unbalanced three-phase alternating current unit commitment models and efficient computation methods. The proposed per-phase nodal community locational marginal pricing concept can effectively coordinate heterogeneous community partners under both grid-connected and islanded operation modes, and incentivize their continued participation in community microgrids. Flexibilities of typical community microgrid partners are also investigated to help guide their strategic bidding in community microgrids; (iii) Addressing major research questions via the proposed models and computation methods to further promote the implementation of distribution systems restructuring; (iv) Validating the proposed research in simulated and realistic system models; and (v) Exploring knowledge and skill requirements for the sustainable operation and effective restructuring of emerging distribution systems and community microgrids, and investigating education and training needs for retooling existing power engineering programs and curricula.