Risk-aware modeling of active distribution grids for sustainable solar hosting and congestion relief with virtual multi energy assets and demand flexibility

The rapid integration of solar photovoltaics (PV) into distribution networks frequently leads to congestion and reverse power flows, which limits the system's capacity for additional renewable generation. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a risk-constrained framework based on the concept of Virtual Multi-Energy Assets (VMEA). This framework offers a coordinated approach that combines hydrogen-based systems for long-term balancing, multi-technology storage, incentive-driven demand response, and dynamic network reconfiguration. A central feature of the model is the use of a downside risk constraint (DRC) to explicitly manage the risk of high costs in adverse scenarios, thereby ensuring robust operation under uncertainties in renewable generation and load. Numerical simulations on a test system show that the proposed framework reduces operational costs by up to 14%, lowers congestion by nearly 60%, and increases solar hosting capacity by over 40% compared to a base case. While the Risk-averse strategy results in a modest 4% cost increase relative to a Risk-neutral approach, it ensures secure operation under extreme uncertainty. These results demonstrate that the VMEA framework is an effective approach for enhancing the resilience and sustainability of distribution networks with high solar penetration.