A MILP approach to plan an electric urban distribution network with an H-shaped layout

In this paper, the problem of upgrading an electric urban distribution network is considered. Although network planning has attracted considerable attention in the field of power systems since the early 1970s, the urban distribution network of Milano (Italy) shows significant and challenging peculiarities. Due to historical reasons, there are two separate distribution networks, previously operated by two different companies, which grew up independently and in an uncoordinated way. Therefore, this paper will present a MILP approach for planning a new network configuration, called H-shaped layout, which optimally integrates the two networks already in place. In order to validate the mathematical model, computational results using a part of the whole distribution network is presented in this paper.