Using Hybrid Distributed Energy Resources as Non-Wire Alternatives to Minimise Investment Costs

The growth trend in energy demand and policies for clean energy generation are leading to an increase in the use of distributed energy resources (DERs). These distributed resources are increasingly being considered as non-wire alternatives (NWA) to eliminate overload and voltage problems in the grid. To achieve this, it is crucial to find the best location and type of resource. This paper presents a mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem for the optimal location, selection, and sizing of the type of renewable source together with storage forming a hybrid plant, which solves problems of overloads and voltages in the grid. The proposed method is tested on the European CIGRE medium voltage (MV) distribution system. The results show how the use of hybrid plants reduces investment costs to solve the problems compared to using only generators.