Modelling and Topology Optimisation of Medium Voltage Representative Networks for The Netherlands

Master thesis door Master student Marcel Brouwers (TU Delft).

Abstract: The electrification of modern-day society keeps increasing and the demand for electricity grows along with it. Technologies like EVs and heat pumps are both part of the new types of demand, while PV systems and wind farms are meant to be our main new sources of generation. Contrary to traditional resources connected to the electricity network, most of these resources tend to be placed and operated in a distributed manner, increasing the demand for transport capacity within the LV and MV grid. This demand cannot always be met however, which leads to situations of congestion.

This thesis seeks to reduce this congestion by means of optimising the grid topology in line with the seasonal variations in the supply and demand of electricity. This is done by means of implementing a two-stage reconfiguration algorithm. The benefit of network reconfiguration is that it is a short-term and low-cost solution which can be implemented by the DSO without relying on other external parties.