A geographic information system-based modelling, analysing and visualising of low voltage networks: The potential of demand time-shifting in the power quality improvement

The challenges of power quality are an emerging topic for the past couple of years due to massive changes occurring in low voltage distribution networks, being even more emphasised in the years marked by the novel COVID-19 disease affecting people’s behaviour and energy crisis increasing the awareness and need of end-users energy independence. Both of these phenomena additionally stress the need for changes in the planning and operation of distribution networks as the traditional consumption patterns of the end-users are significantly different. To overcome these challenges it is necessary to develop tools and methods that will help Distribution System Operators (DSOs). In this paper, we present a geographic information system (GIS)-based tool that, by using open source technologies, identifies and removes errors both in the GIS data, representing a distribution network, and in the consumption data collected from the smart meters. After processing the initial data, a mathematical model of the network is created, and the impact of COVID-19-related scenarios on power quality (PQ) indicators voltage magnitude, voltage unbalance factor (VUF), and total voltage harmonic distortion (THDu) are calculated using the developed harmonic analysis extension of the pandapower simulation tool. The analyses are run on a real-world low voltage network and real consumption data for different periods reflecting different COVID-19-related periods. The results of simulations are visualised using a GIS tool, and based on the results, time periods that are most affected by the change of end-users characteristial behaviour are detected. The potential of the end-users in the PQ improvement is investigated and an algorithm that shifts consumption to more adequate time periods is implemented. After modifying the consumption curve, power quality analysis is made for newly created scenarios. The results show that the pandemic negatively affect all analysed PQ indicators since the change in the average value of PQ disturbances increased both during the hard and post-lockdown period. The time-shifting of consumption shows significant potential in how the end-users can not only reduce their own energy costs but create power quality benefits by reducing all relevant indicators.