Operating and planning issues of distribution grids containing diffuse generation

Diffused generation (DG) is predicted to play an increasing role in the electric power system of the near future. DG gives the opportunity to reduce the cost needed to supply the load by deferring generation and grid upgrade, by increasing customers contractual flexibility and by improving power quality. Among all the benefits that DG can introduce in the electrical distribution, the potential improvements in reliability are to be regarded as one of the most important. The implementation of DG can increase reliability of electric service if units are configured to supply loads during upstream utility source outages (intentional islanding). Therefore, in the paper operating and planning issues related to intentional islanding in distribution grids are discussed and some solutions are presented.