Determination, Evaluation, and Validation of Representative Low-Voltage Distribution Grid Clusters

Decarbonizing the mobility and heating sector involves increasing connected components in low-voltage grids. The simulation of distribution grids and the incorporation of an energy system are relevant instruments for evaluating the effects of these developments. However, grids are highly diversified, and with over 900,000 low-voltage grids in Germany, the simulation would require significant data management and computing capacity. A solution already applied in the literature is the simulation of representative grids. Here, we show the compatibility of clusters and representatives for grid topologies from the literature and further extend and validate them by applying accurate grid data. Our analysis indicates that clusters from the literature unify well across three key parameters but also reveals that the clusters still exclude a relevant amount of grids. Extension, reclassification, and validation using about 1200 real grids establish meta-clusters covering the spectrum of grids from rural to urban regions, focusing on residential to commercial supply tasks. We anticipate our assay to be a further relevant step toward typifying low-voltage distribution grids in Germany.