Abstract
We present a novel fully distributed strategy for joint scheduling of consumption and trading within transactive energy networks. The aim is maximizing social welfare, which itself is redefined and adapted for peer-to-peer prosumer-based markets. In the proposed scheme, hourly energy values are calculated to coordinate the joint scheduling of consumption and trading, taking into consideration both preferences and needs of all network participants. Electricity market prices are scaled locally based on hourly energy values of each prosumer. This creates a system where energy consumption and trading are coordinated based on the value of energy use throughout the day, rather than only the market price. For each prosumer, scheduling is done by allocating load (consumption) and supply (trading) blocks, maximizing the energy value globally and locally within the network. The proposed strategy was tested using a case study of typical residential prosumers. It was shown that the proposed model could provide potential benefits for both prosumers and the grid, albeit with a user-centered, fully distributed management model which relies solely on local scheduling in transactive energy networks. © 2019 IEEE.

Abstract
This paper focuses on the long-term planning of power systems considering the impacts of Electrical Energy Storage Devices (ESSD) as well as Demand Response Programs (DRPs). The proposed model incorporates a two-stage optimization strategy in order to reduce the computational burden of the nonlinear problem. The upper-level of optimization model includes investment decision variables (long-term planning) while in the lower-level, the optimal operation of the model for short-term horizon has been addressed. In the operational stage, the optimal scheduling of power system in the presence of suggested ESSD size and location from the upper level is evaluated. Moreover, the Time-of-Use (ToU) Demand Response (DR) pricing scheme has been applied in the operational stage to evaluate its capability to reduce the total operating costs. The simulation results on the standard 6-bus test system validates the applicability of the proposed two-stage optimization model and illustrates that the optimal sizing and location of ESSDs along with DRP implementation could effectively reduce the total systems costs and improve the power system load factor.

Abstract
In order to decrease operation costs in a security constrained unit commitment (SCUC) problem, strategies such as transmission switching (TS) can be utilized. However, having no limit for the switching of circuit breakers (CBs) in the system is troublesome, since a high number of switching increases the failure probability and decreases the reliability of a CB, in addition to resulting in shorter CB lifespans and higher maintenance and operating costs. In this paper, the reliability of CBs is integrated into the SCUC problem with TS to limit its switching. Since the higher reliability of CBs will increase the reliability of the system, it can be inferred that the reliability of CBs will affect the amount of load shedding. A linearization method is presented to linearize the CB reliability equation. Also, an improved linear AC optimal power flow (ILACOPF) with dynamic thermal line rating (DTLR) which considers weather conditions is used in the model to further reduce the number of switching. In order to evaluate the suggested approach, numerical testing is performed for 6-bus and large-scale 118-bus IEEE test systems with different scenarios. © 2019 IEEE.

Abstract
A novel ensemble algorithm based on kernel density estimation (KDE) is proposed to forecast distributed generation (DG) from renewable energy sources (RES). The proposed method relies solely on publicly available historical input variables (e.g., meteorological forecasts) and the corresponding local output (e.g., recorded power generation). Given a new case (with forecasted meteorological variables), the resulting power generation is forecasted. This is performed by calculating a KDE-based similarity index to determine a set of most similar cases from the historical dataset. Then, the outputs of the most similar cases are used to calculate an ensemble prediction. The method is tested using historical weather forecasts and recorded generation of a PV installation in Portugal. Despite only being given averaged data as input, the algorithm is shown to be capable of predicting uncertainties associated with high frequency weather variations, outperforming deterministic predictions based on solar irradiance forecasts. Moreover, the algorithm is shown to outperform a neural network (NN) in most test cases while being exceptionally faster (32 times). Given that the proposed model only relies on public locally-metered data, it is a convenient tool for DG owners/operators to effectively forecast their expected generation without depending on private/proprietary data or divulging their own.

Abstract
The work reported in this paper jointly addresses two major challenges in modern power systems: 1) systematically maximizing wind power generation (WPG) utilization under worst-case uncertainty and 2) employing mixed integer-nonlinear programming (MINLP) in the co-optimization of variable reactance devices (VRD) and transmission switching (TS) in an AC optimal power flow problem (ACOPF). The first challenge is solved by proposing an interval based robust approach to identify the worst-case WPG uncertainty. Similarly, to overcome the second challenge, a tri-level decomposition algorithm is used to decompose the MINLP representation into one consisting of one mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and two nonlinear programming (NLPs) problems. Finally, the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed model is shown by analysing results from testing on the modified RTS-96 system.

Abstract
The many well-established advantages of distributed generation (DG) make their usage in active distribution networks prevalent. However, uncontrolled operation of DG units can negatively interfere with the performance of other equipment, such as tap-changers, in addition to resulting in sub-optimal usage of their potential. Thus, adequate scheduling/control of DG units is critical for operators of the distribution system to avoid those adverse effects. A linearised model of a multi-objective method for coordinating the operation of photovoltaics, battery storage systems, and tap-changers is proposed. Three objective functions are defined for simultaneously enhancing voltage profile, minimising power losses, and reducing peak load power. The formulated multi-objective problem is solved by means of the epsilon-constraint technique. A novel decision-making methodology is offered to find the Pareto optimality and select the preferred solution. To assess to proposed model's performance, it is tested using 33-bus IEEE test system. Consequently, tap-changers suffer lessened stress, the batteries state-of-charge is kept within adequate limits, and the DG units operation is at higher efficiency. The obtained results verify the effectiveness of this approach.