A Flexible Distribution System Expansion Planning Model: A Dynamic Bi-Level Approach

One of the distribution network operator's (DNO's) responsibilities is to design distribution networks in order to reliably and efficiently meet a portfolio of demands with different attributes. The advent of plug-in electric vehicles introduces a number of new network players, such as gridable parking lot owners (GPLOs), which might have conflicting objectives with DNO's ones. This paper presents a dynamic bi-level model for distribution network planning considering different objectives of DNO and GPLO. The power injection capability of gridable parking lots (GPLs) is employed as an alternative supply source to enhance the network flexibility in supplying loads under faulty conditions. Moreover, the proposed planning approach is developed in a way that the economic risk of the plan associated with the stochastic nature of the GPL behavior is controlled. Different test networks are used to validate the effectiveness of the proposed model.