A grid reinforcement approach for an optimized planning of high‐voltage distribution grids under consideration of line loading indicators

This paper presents a new time‐series‐based approach for the planning of high‐voltage distribution grids, with the aim to use the existing grid structure in the best possible way and to enable an optimal integration of renewable energies sources (RES) into the existing grid structure. For planning the grid, the required grid reinforcements should be carried out in a clearly defined manner and should be targeted to be as low as possible. For this purpose, first the developed planning method determines the line loading indicators from the number and severity of line overloadings in the time‐series‐based contingency analysis while also considering the line losses as well as the average line loading in the normal state. Then, these indicators will be used in the planning approach to automatically carry out suitable grid reinforcements and expansion measures until the grid fulfils the (n−1)‐security. This planning approach also considers the information about the grid topology, such as free‐circuits in the line route and line towers for two or four circuits, for an efficient and technically feasible grid expansion. In the end, the capability of each line loading indicators used in this work is also validated by performing an economic comparison of necessary grid reinforcement.