Principles and Methods of Development of Electrical Distribution Networks

Public electricity distribution networks are one of the vectors of social development, so they must constantly evolve to adapt to the sociological and economic needs of different countries, as well as to the requirements necessary for optimal operation of all public and private electrical distribution installations. With regard to the distribution of electrical energy, network developments are decided within the framework of distribution network development studies, which are the subject of this article. These studies may concern the aspects listed below:

• fundamental technical choices ;

• the choice of equipment to be installed on distribution networks;

• electrification of new areas;

• treatment of electrical stress due to increased loads ;

• connecting new users to distribution networks;

• integration of decentralized generation and electric vehicle charging stations;

• improving the quality of supply on a day-to-day basis, as well as during exceptional climatic or technological events;

• reducing or controlling electrical losses ;

• Renovation of outdated networks or those with inadequate intrinsic reliability;

• preserving the environment and ensuring the safety of people and property;

• modernization of facilities for more flexible, rational and automated operation.

In the field of MV distribution networks, decision-making studies concerning certain aspects listed above are often guided by the master plan for the evolution of distribution networks, which is the subject of article [D 4 211] .

However, the structural orientations of the master plan, which help to reduce the combinatorial number of solutions to be studied, are often insufficiently developed and detailed to directly consider an investment based on these elements. This is all the more true when the master plan is so old that it is necessary to update the input data to ensure the relevance of the project.

The complexity of distribution network development studies stems from the very large number of structures to be managed, the fluctuations in power transited and the many...