Optimal sizing and placement of power-to-gas systems in future active distribution networks

Power-to-Gas is recently attracting lots of interest as a new alternative for the regulation of renewable based power system. In cases, where the re-powering of old wind turbines threatens the normal operation of the local distribution network, this becomes especially relevant. However, the design of medium-voltage distribution networks does not normally follow a common pattern, finding a singular and very particular layouts in each case. This fact, makes the placement and dimensioning of such flexible loads a complicated task for the distribution system operator in the future. This paper describes the procedure employed to optimally size and allocate Power-to-Gas units in order to counteract the impact produced by the wind power re-powering in medium-voltage networks. This approach employs the integer-valued particle swarm optimization technique with the purpose of minimizing both the number of units-investment cost- and the technical losses in the system under study. The results obtained from the assessed test system show how such non-linear methods could help distribution system operators to obtain a fast and precise perception of what is the best way to integrate the Power-to-Gas facilities in their system.