The Challenges of Low Voltage Distribution System State Estimation—An Application Oriented Review

Abstract

Global trends such as the growing share of renewable energy sources in the generation mix, electrification, e-mobility, and the increasing number of prosumers reshape the electricity value chain, and distribution systems are necessarily affected. These systems were planned, developed, and operated as a passive structure for decades with low level of observability. Due to the increasing number of system states, real time operation planning and flexibility services are the key in transition to an active grid management. In this pathway, distribution system state estimation (DSSE) has a great potential, but the real demonstration of this technique is in an early stage, especially on low-voltage level. This paper focuses on the gap between theory and practice and summarizes the limits of low-voltage DSSE implementation. The literature and the main findings follow the general structure of a state estimation process (meter placement, bad data detection, observability, etc.) giving a more essential and traceable overview structure. Moreover, the paper provides a comprehensive mapping of the possible use-cases state estimation and evaluates 27 different experimental sites to conclude on the practical applicability aspects.