Modeling and Simulation of Distribution Networks with High Renewable Penetration in Open-Source Software: QGIS and OpenDSS

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript proposes a simulation strategy based on open source platforms and integration of scripting tools to rapidly model large-scale electricity distribution circuits with distributed renewable generation. The authors proposed an adaptation of the QGIS2OpenDSS tool, which creates models of the OpenDSS distribution network directly from the open geographic information system QGIS. Adaptability was demonstrated using a real distribution field with over 60% penetration of renewable generation based on photovoltaic systems.

  The main contribution of the authors of this manuscript is to adapt and use real PV penetration information from the GIS database of the distribution network circuit, using the QGIS2OpenDSS plug-in to build a DN model, and then perform the analysis using the constructed simulations in OpenDSS.

My comments and questions about the completed manuscript:

1. Fig. 5 requires improvement because it is difficult to read

2. The manuscript presents a typical irradiance curve in Santiago used to model photovoltaic generation, without specifying the data on the basis of which the authors obtained it. More information about irradiation in Santiago should be provided in the manuscript. The table should include a statistical summary of the data used to model photovoltaic generation for individual days and months and select one of them referring to the actual data

3. The authors included a statement in the text of the manuscript that the plugin assigned load profiles to 7528 clients. The circuit is mainly intended for households, with only 10% of customers being commercial. This issue needs to be explained in detail and the plug-in algorithm must be provided

4. The authors should explain what the colors mean in Figure 11

5. Figure 12 should include changes in voltage on the LV bus in volts, it will be more readable and visible

6. The additional table must include actual information about the radiation intensity that was taken into account in the simulation. A heat map is a good idea, but the reader must know on what basis it was created

7. The conclusions should also be extended to include the data obtained because they are too general

Author Response

Comment 1. Fig. 5 requires improvement because it is difficult to read

For a better understanding of the process this figure was replaced by a flowchart detailing the process conducted. Furthermore, a snapshot of one of the segment of the code was included, in order to clarify the transformation process evenmore. Please note that Fig. 5 is now Fig. 8 because of some additional figures that we add for answering other reviewer comments.

Comment 2. Irradiance data

 The requested table was added to the paper (Table 4). Furthermore, the information of the sensor was provided in a paragraph with a reference to the user manual. The location of the sensor inside the circuit is discussed in this paragraph. Columns with statistical data are shown in this table, validating that the selected day presented the maximum solar irradiance recorded in the data.

Comment 3. The authors included a statement in the text of the manuscript that the plugin assigned load profiles to 7528 clients. The circuit is mainly intended for households, with only 10% of customers being commercial. This issue needs to be explained in detail and the plug-in algorithm must be provided

A comment was added at line 443 and 444 of the reviewed document explaining that this data was provided by the DNO. Regarding the plugin, a flowchart was added (Figure 6) for better explaining the sequence of the plugin and which part were modify for this study case.

Comment 4. The authors should explain what the colors mean in Figure 11 

Additional legends were added to Figure 11 (Now Figure 18 in the reviewed document) for better explaining the meaning of the heat map. Furhtermore lines 514-517 were added in order to explain the figure in detail.

Comment 5. Figure 12 should include changes in voltage on the LV bus in volts, it will be more readable and visible

The suggestion was apply, Figure 12 (no Figure 15) is using voltage instead of PU. 

Comment 6. The additional table must include actual information about the radiation intensity that was taken into account in the simulation. A heat map is a good idea, but the reader must know on what basis it was created.

This is also explained on the lines added for answering to Comment 4. Furthermore Table 4 provides the information of irradiance for the simulation.

Comment 7. The conclusions should also be extended to include the data obtained because they are too general

A paragraph was added to the conclusion (Lines 615-620) relating the insights that can be taken from the data obtained from the conducted simulations. 

 

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. In the abstract, it needs to add the context about the significance of the improved tool for researching the influence of distributed energy on power system voltage when it is connected to the grid.

2. The explanation for Figure 11 is not detailed enough. There is no abscissa in Figure 11 (a). Do the three different colors represent different time periods? Why is the initial voltage of blue line different when the distance is 0?

3. The adapted tool can research the influence of Distributed Energy Resources in Medium Voltage and Low Voltage network, so can the authors add a MV bus voltages throughout a day graph of medium voltage near Figure 12?

Author Response

Comment 1. In the abstract, it needs to add the context about the significance of the improved tool for researching the influence of distributed energy on power system voltage when it is connected to the grid.

The suggested modification was added to the abstract (Lines 23-27 of the reviewed document).

Comment 2. The explanation for Figure 11 is not detailed enough. There is no abscissa in Figure 11 (a). Do the three different colors represent different time periods? Why is the initial voltage of blue line different when the distance is 0?

An explanation was added to the reviewed document (Lines 475-480) adding the suggested details for better understanding the figure. Furthermore Figure 11 (now Figure 14) was modify adding the commented details.

Comment 3. The adapted tool can research the influence of Distributed Energy Resources in Medium Voltage and Low Voltage network, so can the authors add a MV bus voltages throughout a day graph of medium voltage near Figure 12?

The MV Bus was added. Figure 16 provides the information of voltage profile for MV Bus. Figure 12 is now Figure 15.

 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This paper used focuses on the research of the rapid modeling of large-scale electrical distribution circuits with distributed renewable generation,using a tool called QGIS2OpenDSS.However, there are still several issues that need to be addressed.

1. The description of the innovation points in this paper is not clear enough. It is recommended to divide the description of the innovation part at the end of the introduction.

2. This paper lacks detailed descriptions in the rewritten part of the open-source tool QGIS2OpenDSS. It is recommended to add relevant text explanations. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The entire text is fluent in language and writing. 

Author Response

Comment 1. The description of the innovation points in this paper is not clear enough. It is recommended to divide the description of the innovation part at the end of the introduction.

A more precise specification of the innovations of the paper was added to the introduction. Lines 86-105 of the reviewed document present bullets regarding the main innovations proposed by this paper.

Comment 2. This paper lacks detailed descriptions in the rewritten part of the open-source tool QGIS2OpenDSS. It is recommended to add relevant text explanations. 

Several paragraphs were added detailing the modifications conducted. Furthermore, snapshots of the modify code are shown. Figure 3 and Figure 5 of the reviewed were added in order to improve the description of the rewritten par of the plugin. 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors made the changes I asked for in the review.

The manuscript has been scientifically enriched and may be published.

Author Response

Thank you for your comment and recommendation for the manuscript to be published.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author answered every question in detail and carefully revised the paper. 

However, in response to the detailed explanation added by the author about modifying algorithm QGIS2OpenDSS, it seems that only a few parameters are modified to make it suitable for the Dominican Republic, and algorithm QGIS2OpenDSS is not modified in essence.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The entire text is fluent in language and writing. 

Author Response

Thank you for your thorough review. In response to your comments, we have carefully revised the language used in the paper to ensure clarity. We confirm that the main algorithm of QGIS2OpenDSS was not fundamentally altered. Instead, we have consistently used the verb "to adapt" in lines 15,24,73,82, and 265 when discussing the specific use case for the Dominican Republic. The verb "to modify" is retained in lines 196, 293, 319, and 321 to accurately describe the changes made to the relevant scripts. This distinction aims to provide precise information regarding the nature and scope of the modifications implemented to the original plugin. Furthermore, a paragraph was added (Lines 90-97) in the introduction detailing how the original publication that presents the opensource QGIS2OpenDSS plugin does not offer details regarding how to use it for other geographical locations or how to adapt the distribution network operator data for the correct functioning of this plugin. For this reason, this is one of the main contributions that we are providing, the detail procedure and the required steps for the application of this plugin. Also, minor editing to a paragraph was done to clarify and ensure the correct use of language (Lines 293-299 highlighted in blue).

Round 3

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author answered every question in detail and carefully revised the paper. I think this paper met the publication requirements. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The entire text is fluent in language and writing.