Integration of Open Source Tools for Studying Large-Scale Distribution Networks

摘要

The penetration of Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs) is expected to increase in thenear future given the attractive incentives from governments, the cost-effectiveness of the technologiesand the appearance of Smart Grid schemes. To understand the corresponding benefitsand challenges associated with them, power utilities are expected to run more sophisticated studiessupported by more accurate and detailed models of distribution network elements and the networkitself. This paper presents the development of two software plugins that allow the integration ofa Geographical Information System (GIS) platform with a distribution system simulator. Theseplugins are intended to provide power utilities free and open source tools to explore the benefitsand/or impacts of newly adopted LCTs and to analyze Smart Grid opportunities in large-scaledistribution networks. The effectiveness of the plugins is illustrated considering a real DN with13323 customers in Costa Rica. Results demonstrate that the plugins can successfully support inthe creation of detailed network models and studies