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

为满足提高社会抵御和恢复重大自然或人为灾难性事件能力的迫切需要，社区微电网的设计目的是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无源放射状网络转变为具有多个自治实体的更复杂的有源网络拓扑。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。为了应对这些挑战，这个职业项目将研究新的方法，对社区微电网激增的新兴配电系统的明显特征进行全面建模，并探索增强配电系统可持续性和弹性的最佳运营战略。具体地说，为指导配电系统和社区微电网的优化运行和协调，提出了一个两层递阶重组框架，重点研究了基本的市场出清机制和有效的计算工具。研究结果有助于优化设计未来完全自由化的零售分销市场和相关的能源政策，并指导像微型玩家一样的电力消费者(生产者-消费者)积极参与这种分销层面的市场。研究工作将与教育和外展计划相辅相成，旨在提高公众对配电系统重组的复杂性的认识和了解，并培养具备满足电力行业需求所需技能的下一代劳动力。个别自治实体的实际可行性和财务可行性是成功实施配电系统重组和零售电力市场的关键。该项目将通过五项综合研究和教育活动来应对这些挑战，即：(I)基于全面的不平衡三相交流最优潮流模型和有效的计算方法，探索配电系统运营商的市场运营和定价机制。提出的每相节点配电区位边际电价概念可以有效地激励各类配电客户继续参与零售电力市场；(Ii)基于综合不平衡三相交流机组组合模型和高效计算方法，研究社区微网运营商的市场运作和定价机制。提出的每相节点社区区位边际电价概念能够有效协调并网和孤岛两种运营模式下的异质社区合作伙伴，激励他们继续参与社区微电网。研究还考察了典型社区微电网合作伙伴的灵活性，以帮助指导他们在社区微电网中的战略竞价；(Iii)通过建议的模型和计算方法解决主要研究问题，以进一步推动配电系统重组的实施；(Iv)在模拟和现实的系统模型中验证拟议的研究；以及(V)探索新兴配电系统和社区微电网的可持续运营和有效重组的知识和技能要求，并调查现有电力工程计划和课程重组的教育和培训需求。

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.