Two-Stage Deep Reinforcement Learning for Distribution System Voltage Regulation and Peak Demand Management

The growing integration of distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) in distribution systems could result in adverse effects during grid operation. This paper develops a two-agent soft actor critic-based deep reinforcement learning (SAC-DRL) solution to simultaneously control PV inverters and battery energy storage systems for voltage regulation and peak demand reduction. The novel two-stage framework, featured with two different control agents, is applied for daytime and nighttime operations to enhance control performance. Comparison results with other control methods on a real feeder in Western Colorado demonstrate that the proposed method can provide advanced voltage regulation with modest active power curtailment and reduce peak load demand from feeder’s head.