Integration of superconducting cables in distribution networks with high penetration of renewable energy resources: Techno-economic analysis

• Implications of HTS cables interconnection into distribution networks with high penetration of renewable energy resources.
• Cost analysis of different scenarios regarding integration of HTS cables into the supply networks.
• Voltage quality and reserve capacity analysis with the integration of HTS cables into the distribution networks.

In the current work the feasibility of integration of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) cables into distribution networks with the existence of high penetration of renewable energy based distributed resources is investigated. Different scenarios regarding the integration of HTS cables into a typical rural MV distribution network have been analyzed. The analyses were performed in different time horizons such as today, 2030, and 2050. The HV cables, HV overhead lines, and MV conventional cables are compared with the MV-HTS cables regarding technical and economical issues. The results show that as a large amount of renewable energy based DG power is intended to be interconnected into the distribution networks, more benefits can be gained using the HTS cables.