Pp OPF - Pandapower Implementation of Three-phase Optimal Power Flow Model

Challenges in the planning and operation of distribution networks caused by the integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) create the need for the development of tools that can be easily used by system operators, industry, and the research society but are also easily upgraded with new functionalities. The full implementation of one such open source tool, named pp OPF (pandapower Optimal Power Flow), is presented in this paper. Pp OPF is the tool used for three-phase optimal power flow (OPF) calculations and it is based on already existing functionalities of pandapower, a Python library for power system calculations. The developed tool enables the possibility to use both power-voltage and current-voltage formulation in different OPF problems, such as determining the photovoltaics (PVs) hosting capacity in three-phase distribution networks, the problem on which the functionality of the developed tool is tested. Additionally, the accuracy of pp OPF is verified by comparing the results with ones obtained by pandapower power flow calculation for the same set of input values. The open-source implementation allows further upgrades, the addition of new functionalities, and the creation of new case studies relevant to the planning and operation of distribution networks.