Integrated method for distribution grid expansion planning considering operational strategies of residential technologies

Growing shares of controllable electric devices, such as heat pumps, electric vehicles, or home battery systems, are integrated into the distribution grid. Historically residential technologies were passive elements in the grid, but with increasing digitalization and interconnection of devices, these residential technologies are able to interact with each other and react to market signals. Therefore the residential load profiles are changing and making it more difficult for distribution grid operators to predict future active distribution grid operation. For distribution system operators, the question arises of how to assess and incorporate such residential operational strategies into long-term grid expansion decisions. This paper proposes an approach on an integrated method to analyze the effects of residential technologies with various operational strategies on the need for expansion and reinforcement in electrical distribution grids.We present the results of our method in an exemplary case study. We apply the method to a real grid region, assuming a high share of electric mobility and electric heat pumps. In this scenario, we examine the impact of market-driven strategies for residential technologies on the necessary distribution grid expansion. The effects of the operational strategy and the method of choosing the design-relevant grid use cases for the expansion planning of the distribution grid are presented and discussed.