Multistage distribution network expansion planning under smart grids environment

• Reliability based framework of vehicle to grid for planning purpose.
• Assessing the impact of smart facilities on the distribution expansion planning.
• Multi-objective and multi-stage distribution network expansion planning.
• Comparing conventional expansion planning with smart network expansion planning.
• Total costs are decreased and reliability index is increased in new planning.

This paper presents a novel model for multistage smart distribution network expansion planning (MSDNEP) in the presence of vehicle to grid (V2G) and fault passage indicator (FPI) in a multi-objective optimization framework. Distribution networks should be expanded in order to serve load growth in the best manner possible. The two objectives considered are: minimization of total cost during the planning horizon and maximization of reliability index. The proposed model determines the sitting and sizing of parking lot as well as conventional alternatives for expansion, such as, optimal size, location and time in which the new lines must be added, replaced or removed. Moreover, the impacts of using FPIs in a distribution network on reliability and the investment cost are in the scope of this study. Due to its good handling of mixed integer nonlinear problem, a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) is utilized for optimization such a complex problem. The effectiveness of the proposed model is demonstrated by applying to a distribution test system and results show a significant improvement in the area of distribution network planning.