Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis to Implement a Solid-State Transformer in Local Distribution Systems in Colombia

Today’s power grids are being modernized with the integration of new technologies, making them increasingly efficient, secure, and flexible. One of these technologies, which is beginning to make great contributions to distribution systems, is solid-state transformers (SSTs), motivating the present t...

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Main Authors: Juan Camilo Ramírez, Eduardo Gómez-Luna, Juan C. Vasquez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/14/3723
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author Juan Camilo Ramírez
Eduardo Gómez-Luna
Juan C. Vasquez
author_facet Juan Camilo Ramírez
Eduardo Gómez-Luna
Juan C. Vasquez
author_sort Juan Camilo Ramírez
collection DOAJ
description Today’s power grids are being modernized with the integration of new technologies, making them increasingly efficient, secure, and flexible. One of these technologies, which is beginning to make great contributions to distribution systems, is solid-state transformers (SSTs), motivating the present technical and economic study of local level 2 distribution systems in Colombia. Taking into account Resolution 015 of 2018 issued by the Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission (CREG), which establishes the economic and quality parameters for the remuneration of electricity operators, the possibility of using these new technologies in electricity networks, particularly distribution networks, was studied. The methodology for developing this study consisted of creating a reference framework describing the topologies implemented in local distribution systems (LDSs), followed by a technical and economic evaluation based on demand management and asset remuneration through special construction units, providing alternatives for the digitization and modernization of the Colombian electricity market. The research revealed the advantages of SST technologies, such as reactive power compensation, surge protection, bidirectional flow, voltage drops, harmonic mitigation, voltage regulation, size reduction, and decreased short-circuit currents. These benefits can be leveraged by distribution network operators to properly manage these types of technologies, allowing them to be better prepared for the transition to smart grids.
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spelling doaj-art-b6766d077323413796b7bf9c7e793e892025-08-20T02:45:38ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-07-011814372310.3390/en18143723Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis to Implement a Solid-State Transformer in Local Distribution Systems in ColombiaJuan Camilo Ramírez0Eduardo Gómez-Luna1Juan C. Vasquez2Grupo de Investigación en Alta Tensión-GRALTA, Escuela de ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760015, ColombiaGrupo de Investigación en Alta Tensión-GRALTA, Escuela de ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760015, ColombiaCenter for Research on Microgrids (CROM), AAU Energy, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, DenmarkToday’s power grids are being modernized with the integration of new technologies, making them increasingly efficient, secure, and flexible. One of these technologies, which is beginning to make great contributions to distribution systems, is solid-state transformers (SSTs), motivating the present technical and economic study of local level 2 distribution systems in Colombia. Taking into account Resolution 015 of 2018 issued by the Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission (CREG), which establishes the economic and quality parameters for the remuneration of electricity operators, the possibility of using these new technologies in electricity networks, particularly distribution networks, was studied. The methodology for developing this study consisted of creating a reference framework describing the topologies implemented in local distribution systems (LDSs), followed by a technical and economic evaluation based on demand management and asset remuneration through special construction units, providing alternatives for the digitization and modernization of the Colombian electricity market. The research revealed the advantages of SST technologies, such as reactive power compensation, surge protection, bidirectional flow, voltage drops, harmonic mitigation, voltage regulation, size reduction, and decreased short-circuit currents. These benefits can be leveraged by distribution network operators to properly manage these types of technologies, allowing them to be better prepared for the transition to smart grids.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/14/3723local distribution systemsspecial construction unitsoperationsthe energy and gas regulatory commissionsolid-state transformersdigitalization
spellingShingle Juan Camilo Ramírez
Eduardo Gómez-Luna
Juan C. Vasquez
Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis to Implement a Solid-State Transformer in Local Distribution Systems in Colombia
Energies
local distribution systems
special construction units
operations
the energy and gas regulatory commission
solid-state transformers
digitalization
title Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis to Implement a Solid-State Transformer in Local Distribution Systems in Colombia
title_full Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis to Implement a Solid-State Transformer in Local Distribution Systems in Colombia
title_fullStr Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis to Implement a Solid-State Transformer in Local Distribution Systems in Colombia
title_full_unstemmed Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis to Implement a Solid-State Transformer in Local Distribution Systems in Colombia
title_short Technical and Economic Feasibility Analysis to Implement a Solid-State Transformer in Local Distribution Systems in Colombia
title_sort technical and economic feasibility analysis to implement a solid state transformer in local distribution systems in colombia
topic local distribution systems
special construction units
operations
the energy and gas regulatory commission
solid-state transformers
digitalization
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/14/3723
work_keys_str_mv AT juancamiloramirez technicalandeconomicfeasibilityanalysistoimplementasolidstatetransformerinlocaldistributionsystemsincolombia
AT eduardogomezluna technicalandeconomicfeasibilityanalysistoimplementasolidstatetransformerinlocaldistributionsystemsincolombia
AT juancvasquez technicalandeconomicfeasibilityanalysistoimplementasolidstatetransformerinlocaldistributionsystemsincolombia