Rapid increases in distributed photovoltaic (PV) penetration have brought additional challenges to distribution network planning and operation. Meanwhile, flexible interconnection devices such as soft open point integrated with battery energy storage system (E-SOP) can significantly enhance the regulatory capability and operational adaptability of the distribution system and have been widely applied in recent years. First, to improve both economic performance and voltage quality, a coordinated planning method for the multi-region flexible interconnected distribution system based on E-SOP is proposed. Second, with the ongoing growth of interconnected distribution networks, centralized optimization methods exhibit limitations in computational efficiency and privacy protection. To address this, the planning model is decomposed into several subproblems by applying the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM), allowing each region to optimize its local subproblem in a fully distributed manner. Additionally, a Shapley value-based cost allocation mechanism is applied to ensure fair and rational cost distribution among different distribution networks. Finally, case studies are conducted to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Case studies show that the proposed method reduces the system’s total annual cost by 14.90% and the electricity purchase cost by 28.61% compared with the pre-planning case. Meanwhile, the maximum voltage imbalance is reduced to within the standard range. These results validate the effectiveness of the proposed method in enhancing both economic efficiency and power quality for flexible interconnected distribution systems.
Zhu et al. (2026) studied this question.