Integration of distributed resources and storage assets in rural distribution networks.

Rural grids are distribution networks situated in remote areas, linked to the main grid with long overhead Medium Voltage (MV) lines. These grids are usually characterized by aged infrastructures, that suffer for high vulnerability and low resilience in case of fault. For these reasons rural grids are weak distribution networks that ask for more reliability, higher ability to guarantee a continuous supply in case of fault and better power quality service. The constitution of Rural Microgrids, able to operate both in grid-connected and in islandmode, can provide a solution. The guarantee of a continuous power supply for the consumers of the microgrid is linked to the increase of self-sufficiency that, nowadays, thanks to the develop and to the cost decrease of technologies, can be based on the exploiting of Renewable Energy Sources (RES). RES generation allows to produce electricity avoiding pollutants emissions but is affected by a variable and low foreseeable electricity production. The integration of Electrical Storage Systems (ESSs) moves in the direction of limiting this issues, providing services as avoid RES generation curtailment and decouple in time the production and consumption of electricity. Besides, also the grid can benefits from the shaving of peak loads and from the leveling of the load profile. The aim of this work is to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility and the environmental benefits of a Rural Microgrid characterized by an high photovoltaics (PV) power systems penetration and the integration of a ESS. The study has been conducted both for a grid of residential users, that constitute a jointly acting self-consumers group, and for a grid including also an industrial load, not related with the self-consumers. Then, the model proposed has been applied on a study case, represented by a rural grid located in Santa María de Corcó (Girona).