Flexible resources dispatching to assist DR management in urban distribution network scenarios including PV generation. An Italian case study

Nowadays, Distributed System Operators (DSOs) are facing more and more difficult challenges in meeting the user needs with an increasing overall power demand, at the same time guaranteeing the required level of reliability. A possible solutions is offered by the Demand Response (DR) management, aiming to reduce the total load demand of the distribution system during peak periods in order to maintain the integrity of the network and stability of the whole system. The paper analyses different scenarios based on real data from the distribution grid of Milan (Italy), evaluating benefits and costs of DR implementation in three different plants, to solve problems related to feeders congestion, power losses, and voltage drops, through either the scheduling or remote control of distributed resources. Moreover, load shape considerations suggests the possibility to integrate in the system a higher share of photovoltaic (PV) generation, of which the effects on DR are also evaluated in the paper.