Open Access

ARTICLE

Distributed Coordination Control of PV and Energy Storage in Different Low-Voltage Distribution Networks Considering Multi-Objective

Jie Ma¹, Xichao Du¹, Chunxin Ma², Yinzhen Wang², Yalei Bai¹, Youwen Zhang¹, Xingxu Zhu^2,*
1 Economics and Technology Research Institute of State Grid Henan Electric Power Company, Zhengzhou, China
2 Key Laboratory of Modern Power System Simulation and Control & Renewable Energy Technology, Ministry of Education (Northeast Electric Power University), Jilin, China
* Corresponding Author: Xingxu Zhu. Email:

Energy Engineering https://doi.org/10.32604/ee.2026.081800

Received 11 March 2026; Accepted 13 May 2026; Published online 24 June 2026

Abstract

A large volume of distributed PV and energy storage resources can be integrated into different low-voltage distribution systems which enhances the local absorption of renewable generation. However, low-voltage segments and medium-voltage distribution infrastructure correspond to different stakeholders, whose operational optimization objectives are often mutually conflicting. This paper introduces a collaborative, distributed framework designed to optimize the operation of integrated medium- and low-voltage networks with significant penetrations of behind-the-meter photovoltaic generation and storage. The formulated problem incorporates standard power flow constraints. A unified multi-objective optimization model is formulated with four objectives: (i) minimizing the overall operational cost of the distribution network, (ii) minimizing load rate disparities among transformer zones, (iii) minimizing the operational cost of energy storage systems, and (iv) maximizing photovoltaic (PV) utilization. The multiple objectives are aggregated using an entropy-based weighting method to obtain a scalar optimization problem. The resulting problem is then solved using the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM), enabling each network layer to solve its subproblem independently. The coordination mechanism involves the medium-voltage network broadcasting iterative price signals to guide adjustments in distributed energy resource outputs at the low-voltage level. This approach achieves system-wide multi-objective optimization with minimal exchange of operational data at the network boundary. Case studies using a modified IEEE 33-7 bus test system validate the practical efficacy and computational feasibility of the proposed distributed strategy.

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Keywords

Coordinated optimization; multi-low-voltage distribution networks; distributed photovoltaics and energy storage; alternating direction method of multipliers

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