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

为了满足提高社会承受重大自然或人为灾难性事件并从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能供应。 随着社区微电网和分布式能源的渗透率增加，配电系统正在从传统的由单个公用事业运营的无源辐射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新塑造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，用于对社区微电网激增的新兴配电系统的独特特征进行综合建模，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，提出了一个两层的分层重组框架，用于指导配电系统和社区微电网的优化运行和协调，特别关注调查基本的市场清算机制和高效的计算工具。 这项研究的结果可以促进未来完全自由化的零售分销市场和相关能源政策的最佳设计，并指导微型电力生产者（生产者-消费者）积极参与这种分销市场。 研究工作将辅之以一项教育和外联计划，旨在提高公众对配电系统重组复杂性的认识和理解，以及培养具备所需技能的下一代劳动力，以满足电力行业的需求。各个自主实体的物理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的关键市场的 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佳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位置边际定价概念可以有效地激励不同的分销客户在零售电力市场的持续参与;（ii）调查的市场运作和定价机制，社区微电网运营商的基础上全面不平衡的三相交流机组组合模型和有效的计算方法。 提出的每相节点社区位置边际定价概念可以有效地协调异构社区合作伙伴在并网和孤岛运行模式下，并激励他们继续参与社区微电网。 （3）通过提出的模型和计算方法解决主要研究问题，进一步促进配电系统重构的实施;（4）在仿真和现实系统模型中验证提出的研究。及（v）探讨新兴配电系统及社区微电网的可持续运作及有效重组所需的知识及技能，并调查现有电力工程计划及课程重组的教育及培训需求。

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.