A bi‐level multistage distribution network expansion planning framework with the cooperation of residential private investors (A case study in Iran)

Abstract In recent years, supporting schemes have been legislated by several governments to encourage private investors in installing renewable energy resources (RER). such cases, the supportive policies are mainly enacted based on either investor or distribution companies’ standpoint. this paper, a network expansion planning (DNEP) framework with cooperation of residential (RPI) is proposed. Due presence couple main participants, proposed arranged bi‐level framework, where RPI participation optimized at upper level, and system structure determined lower level. order assess profitability project from investors’ attitude, payback period years (PBY) utilized. Meanwhile, due uncertainty resources, fuzzy clustering method (FCM) developed catch intermittency problem. The implemented real 81 bus test Iran. Moreover, existing scheme Iran also modified plan investigated make cost‐effective decisions. Finally, sensitivity analysis performed reach more beneficial result. Obtained results demonstrated how companies can utilize potential customers long‐term planning.