Frédéric Olivier

Active Management of Low-Voltage Networks for Mitigating Overvoltages Due to Photovoltaic Units

In this paper, the overvoltage problems that might arise from the integration of photovoltaic (PV) panels into low-voltage (LV) distribution networks is addressed. A distributed scheme is proposed that adjusts the reactive and active power output of inverters to prevent or alleviate such problems. The proposed scheme is model-free and makes use of limited communication between the controllers in the form of a distress signal only during emergency conditions. It prioritizes the use of reactive power, while active power curtailment is performed only as a last resort. The behavior of the scheme is studied using dynamic simulations on a single LV feeder and on a larger network composed of 14 LV feeders. Its performance is compared with a centralized scheme based on the solution of an optimal power flow (OPF) problem, whose objective function is to minimize the active power curtailment. The proposed scheme successfully mitigates overvoltage situations due to high PV penetration and performs almost as well as the OPF-based solution with significantly less information and communication requirements.

An App-based Algorithmic Approach for Harvesting Local and Renewable Energy Using Electric Vehicles

The emergence of electric vehicles (EVs), combined with the rise of renewable energy production capacities, will strongly impact the way electricity is produced, distributed and consumed in the very near future. This position paper focuses on the problem of optimizing charging strategies for a fleet of EVs in the context where a significant amount of electricity is generated by (distributed) renewable energy. It exposes how a mobile application may offer an efficient solution for addressing this problem. This app can play two main roles. Firstly, it would incite and help people to play a more active role in the energy sector by allowing photovoltaic (PV) panel owners to sell their electrical production directly to consumers, here the EVs’ agents. Secondly, it would help distribution system operators (DSOs) or transmission system operators (TSOs) to modulate more efficiently the load by allowing them to influence EV charging behaviour in real time. Finally, the present paper advocates for the introduction of a two-sided market-type model between EV drivers and electricity