Smart grids (SGs), as an emerging grid modernization concept, is spreading across diverse research areas for revolutionizing power systems. SGs realize new key concepts with intelligent technologies, maximizing achieved objectives and addressing critical issues that are limited in conventional grids. The SG modernization is more noticeable at the distribution grid level. Thus, the transformation of the traditional distribution network (DN) into an intelligent one, is a vital dimension of SG research. Since future DNs are expected to be interconnected in nature and operation, hence traditional planning methods and tools may no longer be applicable. In this paper, the smart distribution network (SDN) concept under the SG paradigm, has presented and reviewed from the planning perspective. Also, developments in the SDN planning process have been surveyed on the basis of SG package (SGP). The package presents a SDN planning foundation via major SG-enabling technologies (SGTF), anticipated functionalities (SGAF), new consumption models (MDC) as potential SDN candidates, associated policies and pilot projects and multi-objective planning (MOP) as a real-world optimization problem. In addition, the need for an aggregated SDN planning model has also been highlighted. The paper discusses recent notable related works, implementation activities, various issues/challenges and potential future research directions; all aiming at SDN planning.

The increasing demand of energy in the traditional grids is getting more complex, less feasible, harmful, uneconomical and high in power losses. This paper presents an efficient energy management approach to mitigate such issues with smart micro grid (SMG) and aims at a solution that is both cost effective and eco-friendly, within energy market paradigm. Goals are achieved with the help of Home Energy Management Controller (HEMC), Energy Market Management Controller (EMMC) and Control Agent (CA). The individual load is managed in the presence of local generation, storage system, user comfort, DGs and Utility within energy market paradigm. Two level energy management approach is proposed to achieve concerned goals. First is to manage load and schedule storage with respect to individual local generation and market pricing. Second is to manage energy market with the help of four different types of priorities and control agent input. The problem is solved with a variant of meta-heuristic method, Multi Objective Grey Wolf Optimization (MOGWO), which gives more comprehensive solution by comparing with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The proposed methodology is implemented on a SMG based-community test system. Homes within that community have different economic conditions and personal priorities. Simulation results demonstrates achievement of aimed goals in presented work.

Distribution networks (DNWs) are facing numerous challenges, notably growing load demands, environmental concerns, operational constraints and expansion limitations with the current infrastructure. These challenges serve as a motivation factor for various distribution network planning (DP) strategies, such as timely addressing load growth aiming at prominent objectives such as reliability, power quality, economic viability, system stability and deferring costly reinforcements. The continuous transformation of passive to active distribution networks (ADN) needs to consider choices, primarily distributed generation (DG), network topology change, installation of new protection devices and key enablers as planning options in addition to traditional grid reinforcements. Since modern DP (MDP) in deregulated market environments includes multiple stakeholders, primarily owners, regulators, operators and consumers, one solution fit for all planning scenarios may not satisfy all these stakeholders. Hence, this paper presents a review of several planning techniques (PTs) based on mult-objective optimizations (MOOs) in DNWs, aiming at better trade-off solutions among conflicting objectives and satisfying multiple stakeholders. The PTs in the paper spread across four distinct planning classifications including DG units as an alternative to costly reinforcements, capacitors and power electronic devices for ensuring power quality aspects, grid reinforcements, expansions, and upgrades as a separate category and network topology alteration and reconfiguration as a viable planning option. Several research works associated with multi-objective planning techniques (MOPT) have been reviewed with relevant models, methods and achieved objectives, abiding with system constraints. The paper also provides a composite review of current research accounts and interdependence of associated components in the respective classifications. The potential future planning areas, aiming at the multi-objective-based frameworks, are also presented in this paper.