Coordinated operation of multi-terminal SOP enabled multi-level multi-energy system considering coupled electrical and thermal demand response

The increasing integration of distributed generation (DG) into distribution systems poses significant challenges such as voltage violations and line overloads. With the growing coupling between electrical and thermal energy carriers, developing coordinated strategies for multi-energy systems has become essential to accommodate high DG penetration levels. However, most existing studies primarily address single-level multi-energy systems, leaving the flexible interconnection potential of multi-level configurations largely unexplored. This paper proposes a coordinated operation framework for multi-level multi-energy systems based on an energy storage-integrated multi-terminal soft open point (SOP) configuration. The overall system architecture, comprising multi-voltage distribution networks and multi-level heating systems, is first presented. By integrating IoT-enabled electrical and thermal demand response, a coordinated energy storage-integrated multi-terminal SOP model is developed to minimize both planning and operational costs. Case studies conducted on a representative multi-level multi-energy system verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach, demonstrating its superior operational flexibility and notable economic benefits.