Optimal Economic–Environmental Operation of BESS in AC Distribution Systems: A Convex Multi-Objective Formulation

Abstract

This paper deals with the multi-objective operation of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in AC distribution systems using a convex reformulation. The objective functions are CO2 emissions, and the costs of the daily energy losses are considered. The conventional non-linear nonconvex branch multi-period optimal power flow model is reformulated with a second-order cone programming (SOCP) model, which ensures finding the global optimum for each point present in the Pareto front. The weighting factors methodology is used to convert the multi-objective model into a convex single-objective model, which allows for finding the optimal Pareto front using an iterative search. Two operational scenarios regarding BESS are considered: (i) a unity power factor operation and (ii) a variable power factor operation. The numerical results demonstrate that including the reactive power capabilities in BESS reduces 200 kg of CO2 emissions and USD 80 per day of operation. All of the numerical validations were developed in MATLAB 2020b with the CVX tool and the SEDUMI and SDPT3 solvers.