Symmetry-Guided Distributed Control Strategy for Source–Load Coordination in Active Distribution Networks with Electric Heating Loads

As a clean heating solution, electric heating loads (EHLs) have become a critical flexible load resource on the demand side in recent years. To enhance the power grid’s frequency regulation capability and mitigate the impacts of both EHLs and high-penetration renewable energy on the power grid, a symmetry-guided distributed control strategy for active distribution networks (ADNs) considering demand response (DR) of EHLs is proposed from the perspective of source–load bilateral coordination. Based on the symmetry of information interaction and control structure between distributed generators (DGs) and EHLs, a thermodynamic dynamic model of EHLs and a source–load coordinated response control framework are established. An improved consensus-based distributed control algorithm and a temperature queue sorting-based distributed response strategy are designed to maintain symmetrical power allocation and symmetrical response coordination between DGs and EHLs, achieving rapid and stable source–load coordination. Finally, comprehensive simulations verify the effectiveness of the proposed strategy. The results show that the proposed strategy improved the convergence speed by 27.5%, achieved fast and effective control of DGs and EHLs, maintained the steady-state frequency above 49.95 Hz under various interferences, effectively eliminated frequency deviation caused by source–load interference, and significantly improved the stability and frequency support capability of ADNs.