Many energy system scenarios are expecting large numbers of distributed energy resources (DER) to be connected in the power distribution network, which therefore needs to be expanded efficiently to minimize the overall cost for society. This PhD work centers on the analysis of distribution network expansion planning with high shares of DER. This document is structured as follows. Firstly, a short extract of the state-of-the-art is presented. Secondly, the motivation justifying the need for realistic large-scale, long-term ADN planning tools is presented. Finally, the research proposal including the updated research plan is presented.

This dissertation thesis assesses different design options for a model of the European electricity market to investigate nodal pricing. The main contribution of this Ph.D. thesis represents the development of a heuristic algorithm to model hydro storages in largescale nodal pricing models. It allows overcoming the lack of data on hydro state of charge time series and issues with intertemporal constraints, when simulating large-scale models in sequences and displays the seasonality of hydro reservoir filling. Thereby, a nodal model of the European electricity market was developed that is capable of assessing nodal against the existing zonal pricing scheme through the incorporation of redispatching in the zonal modeling approach. A study of the costs of redispatching proves the applicability of the model and indicates the potential cost savings for congestion management that nodal pricing can signify. 

The thesis work has three main objectives. From the distribution system operator (DSO) perspective, the main objective is to investigate how the technical and non-technical features vary among distribution system networks in Europe. From the modelling perspective, the second main objective is firstly to define a method which incorporates the previous findings to properly design a tool able to reproduce representative urban networks and secondly to validate the results through a statistical methodology. From the electric vehicle’s infrastructure perspective, the third main objective is firstly to understand the electric vehicles demand behaviour and develop models capable of reproducing them, and secondly to assess, through a dedicated methodology, the electric vehicles charging infrastructure features and performance.

Due to the transition towards a competitive low carbon economy the share of decentralized and intermittent generation feeding into networks has steadily increased over the last decade. This transformation will require considerable investments and since network industry is a regulated sector, a number of policy and regulatory challenges will arise.

Based on a review of the European regulatory status and using a dataset of 459 innovative SG projects, this thesis focuses on market and regulatory factors and performs a series of statistical tests to investigate how the different factor levels affecting SG investments in Europe. The results show that (1) lower market concentration in the electricity distribution sector (2) the use of incentive-based regulatory schemes; and (3) the adoption of innovation-stimulus mechanisms are key enablers of SG investments. 

This PhD study explores the impacts of possible changes in electricity generation and demand patterns on the need for cross-border transmission investment in Europe. The analysis is performed with EUPowerDispatch, a minimum-cost unit commitment dispatch model of the European electricity system which was developed by the author and which constitutes one of the main products of his research.