Regulated P2P Energy Trading: A Typical Australian Distribution Network Case Study

Abstract

This paper presents an approach to deploy virtually settled peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading in existing grid-connected networks without considering post-trading protection schemes that may be required for bus voltage regulation. To achieve this goal, this paper demonstrates to consider the maximum power export limit fixed by the network operators while modelling the P2P trading framework in the virtual layer and then to determine the traded quantity of each prosumer in the P2P market along with the associated price per unit of energy traded. The developed P2P mechanism in this paper is tested on a real low-voltage (LV) distribution network in Australia, where the maximum local power injection limit has already been defined for the prosumers. The simulation results show that both prosumers and other customers of the network can still be benefited significantly, compared to the current feed-in-tariff (FiT) and electricity retail prices respectively, even though P2P traded quantities are regulated by the network operator. It is also observed that the prosumers' engagement in P2P trading at various time slots do not rise bus voltages beyond the prescribed limit. Thus, virtually settled P2P transactions considering the power export constraint are suitable for practical deployment.