Abstract
The transition to active distribution grids necessitates reevaluating planning and operation
processes, where they are no longer considered independent. So, operational planning emerges
as the crucial link to navigate the demanding new conditions in active distribution grids assisted
by emerging technologies. Distribution grid operational planning can ensure proactive
management of grid problems, faster adaptability, providing detailed information to the control
centers, as system conditions change, and integrating this information into slower processes
like long-term grid planning. Typically, operational planning is conducted for day-ahead, weekahead,
and seasonal time horizons. Detailed or near-real-time operational planning, on the other
hand, is uncommon in today’s distribution grid. Current operational planning is characterised
by manual and often paper-based approaches that are translated into only offline grid
reconfigurations or personnel dispatch. With the availability of measurements and sensors,
distribution grids are becoming more monitored, allowing the determination of the full state of
the system, i.e., all important variables such as current, voltages and powers. Also, with the
wide integration of intermittent forms of energy resources and as the activation of flexibility
resources becomes routine operational measures, planning the active distribution grid operation
close to real-time will play a fundamental role. As the preconditions to implement a systematic
and analytic operational planning process for DSOs are being established, this study drafts a
process flow chart for DSO operational planning from the week-ahead to near-real-time time
horizon suited for future distribution systems.
processes, where they are no longer considered independent. So, operational planning emerges
as the crucial link to navigate the demanding new conditions in active distribution grids assisted
by emerging technologies. Distribution grid operational planning can ensure proactive
management of grid problems, faster adaptability, providing detailed information to the control
centers, as system conditions change, and integrating this information into slower processes
like long-term grid planning. Typically, operational planning is conducted for day-ahead, weekahead,
and seasonal time horizons. Detailed or near-real-time operational planning, on the other
hand, is uncommon in today’s distribution grid. Current operational planning is characterised
by manual and often paper-based approaches that are translated into only offline grid
reconfigurations or personnel dispatch. With the availability of measurements and sensors,
distribution grids are becoming more monitored, allowing the determination of the full state of
the system, i.e., all important variables such as current, voltages and powers. Also, with the
wide integration of intermittent forms of energy resources and as the activation of flexibility
resources becomes routine operational measures, planning the active distribution grid operation
close to real-time will play a fundamental role. As the preconditions to implement a systematic
and analytic operational planning process for DSOs are being established, this study drafts a
process flow chart for DSO operational planning from the week-ahead to near-real-time time
horizon suited for future distribution systems.
