Name: DANIEL FONSECA DO NASCIMENTO
Publication date: 20/10/2025
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| AUGUSTO CESAR RUEDA MEDINA | Presidente |
| RAFAEL SANTOS FREIRE FERRAZ | Examinador Externo |
| WALBERMARK MARQUES DOS SANTOS | Examinador Interno |
Summary: This dissertation thesis investigates the provision of ancillary services (AS) through distributed
generation (DG) in electric power distribution systems, emphasizing the technical, economic,
and regulatory aspects that determine the feasibility of this application. The increasing
penetration of DG units, particularly photovoltaic systems, has transformed the operation and
planning of distribution networks, opening opportunities for these resources to provide
complementary functions such as reactive power support, voltage regulation, and active power
reserve for frequency control. To assess this potential, a market-based dispatch methodology
was developed and implemented in the optimization environment AMPL, considering
operational constraints and compliance with voltage quality standards established in Module 8
of the Brazilian Distribution Procedures. The methodology was applied to the IEEE 37-bus test
feeder in a 24-hour simulation, optimizing the active and reactive dispatch of DG units. The
technical results highlight improvements in voltage profiles, mitigation of violations beyond
the Permitted Deviation Range and Critical Deviation Range, and reduction of power losses.
From an economic perspective, the model demonstrates significant benefits for distribution
utilities, including a 41% reduction in operational costs and a 93.5% decrease in regulatory
penalty expenses related to non-compliance with service quality limits. Additionally, the study
incorporates a competitive market remuneration structure, analyzing how such a mechanism
can incentivize DG participation based on actual operational costs. The findings suggest that
DG-based AS provision is both technically feasible and economically advantageous, enhancing
system robustness, encouraging efficiency, and improving regulatory performance indicators
of continuity and power quality. These results reinforce the relevance of integrating DG into
ancillary service frameworks as a strategic approach to modernize distribution systems, align
with regulatory requirements, and promote a more resilient and sustainable electricity sector.
