Application of storage and demand side management to optimise existing network capacity

In response to distribution network operational challenges such as aging network assets, the presence of distributed generation and expected load growth, new approaches are need to unlock existing network capacity. This paper presents a new methodology for assessing the potential benefits of using storage and demand side management (DSM) to mitigate network congestion and increase the utilisation of the network assets. The methodology is based on a linear multi-period DC optimal power flow (OPF), where DSM and storage are modelled as a part of the optimisation constraints. Storage and DSM are used to reduce network congestion and increase intermittent DG integration. The benefits of storage and DSM are evaluated by comparing scenarios without and with these enabling technologies on an urban distribution network considering historical time series data for demand and wind output. The results obtained illustrate the potential applications of storage and DSM to increase the network capacity utilisation and to reduce both wind curtailment and congestion costs.