Capacity Optimization Configuration of Active Distribution Networks Considering Flexible Resources from Multiple Investment Entities

With the large-scale deployment of flexible resources, equipment operators have emerged as a significant new market force within distribution networks, offering diversified power supply alternatives beyond the main grid for distribution companies. This paper addresses the optimal integration strategies for flexible resources in distribution networks—encompassing energy storage systems, photovoltaic (PV) installations, flexible loads, and micro gas turbines—owned by multiple investment entities. By considering the impact of varying investment entities and strategies for energy storage, a bi-level planning model is developed with an upper-level objective of minimizing annual costs and a lower-level objective of minimizing operational costs. This model determines the optimal siting and sizing of flexible resources, focusing on analyzing the most suitable capacity configurations for each resource type to achieve synergistic optimization between the economic efficiency and flexibility of distribution networks. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through simulation studies.