Electric Distribution Network Management and Control

This book highlights the recent research advances in the area of operation, management and control of electricity distribution networks. It addresses various aspects of distribution network management, including operation, customer engagement and technology accommodation. Electricity distribution networks are an important part of the power delivery system, and the smart control and management of distribution networks is vital in order to satisfy technical, economic, and customer requirements. A new management philosophy, techniques, and methods are essential to handle uncertainties, security, and stability associated with the integration of renewable-based distributed generation units, demand forecast and customer needs. This book discusses these topics in the context of managing the capacity of distribution networks while addressing the future needs of electricity systems. Furthermore, the efficient and economic operation of distribution networks is an essential part of management of system for effective use of resources, and as such the also addresses operation and control approaches and techniques suitable for future distribution networks.

Ali Arefi received his B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering in 1999, 2001, and 2011, respectively. He is currently a senior lecturer at the School of Engineering and Information Technology, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia, where he has been working since 2016. Prior to that, he was a lecturer and research fellow at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia from 2012 to 2015. He also has extensive experience in the electric distribution industry and has been a consultant for five industry-funded research projects. He is an IEEE senior member and a member of several IEEE working groups, committees and task forces. His research interests are in the areas of electric delivery planning, state estimation, power quality, and energy efficiency.

Farhad Shahnia received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Electrical Power Engineering with first-class honors from the University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran in 2004 and 2006, respectively, and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia in 2011. He is currently a senior lecturer at Murdoch University, Perth, Australia where he has been working since 2015. Prior to that, he was a lecturer at Curtin University, Perth, Australia from 2012 to 15 and a research fellow at the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia in 2011. His professional experience also includes three years at the Eastern Azerbaijan Electric Power Distribution Company, Tabriz, Iran. He has published 4 books, 10 book chapters, and over 100 scholarly journal and conference articles. Gerard Ledwich received a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia, in 1976. He has been Chair Professor of Electrical Power Engineering at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia, since 1998, and was Head of the Electrical Engineering Department, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia, from 1997 to 1998. Previously, he was with the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, from 1976 to 1994. His research interests are in the areas of power system operation and control. He is a fellow of the Institute of Engineers, Australia.