Distributed Optimization in Distribution Systems with Grid-Forming and Grid-Supporting Inverters

Abstract

With massive penetrations of active grid-edge technologies, distributed computing and optimization paradigm has gained significant attention to solve distribution-level optimal power flow (OPF) problems. However, the application of generic distributed optimization techniques to OPF problems leads to a very large number of macro-iterations or communication rounds among the distributed computing agents delaying the decision-making process or resulting in suboptimal solutions. Moreover, the existing distribution-level OPF problems typically model inverter-interfaced distributed energy resources (DERs) as grid-following inverters; grid-supporting and grid-forming functionalities have not been explicitly considered. The added complexities introduced by different inverter models require further attention to developing an appropriate model for new types of inverter-based DERs and computationally-tractable OPF algorithms. In this paper, we expand the distribution-level OPF model to include a combination of the grid-forming, grid-supporting, grid-following inverter-based DERs and also present the application of a domain-specific problem decomposition and distributed algorithm for the topologically radial power distribution systems to efficiently solve distribution-level OPF problem.