Sensitivity of Synthetic Distribution Networks to Customer Locations, Distances, and Line Parameters

Synthetic distribution network development is required for electrification impact assessments in distribution networks due to the proprietary status or unavailability of actual data. This research implements an automated synthetic network development approach in OpenDSS, demonstrating multiple distribution network types, including CBD (central business district), urban, suburban, short rural and long rural networks. The 5 network types vary by the network parameters’ diversity (such as line impedance, customer per circuit, customer distance, load demand, etc.). Automation and scalability are the major advantages of the proposed approach. A total of 10 representative Australian distribution networks have been modelled by the synthetic approach and validated by comparing the voltage profiles with the actual ones. The sensitivity analysis has been presented considering the influential model parameters, such as the relative locations of residential versus commercial and industrial (C&I) customers, line impedances and distance between customers. The simulation results conclude that the C&I customers should be randomly placed in the low voltage circuits, a variable distance between 10m to 40m is reasonable for short rural circuits, and 6/1/.118 ACSR conductor better represents short rural circuits.