Fully distributed multi-area economic dispatch method for active distribution networks

Distributed generators can be integrated in geographically distributed areas and microgrids of active distribution networks (ADNs), and can operate independently. On the basis of the alternating direction method of multipliers, the authors describe an efficient fully distributed algorithm to solve multi-area economic dispatch problems in ADNs without requiring a central coordinator. The physical interpretation of the distributed algorithm and a proof for its convergence are both given. Network losses are taken into account by exploiting the features of ADNs. Two other popular distributed algorithms, including Lagrangian relaxation and auxiliary problem principle, are also implemented and compared with numerical tests. They discuss numerical results that demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the algorithm.