Editorial: Intelligent operation and control in next generation urban power grid

With the rapid development of the economy and the rapid growth of population over the decades, urbanization has today become a prevailing trend all around the world. With world urbanization, there is a great increase in electrical energy demand for urban activities. Urban power grids are facing many expansion and operational challenges. On the other hand, with the ever-increasing double pressure from the energy crisis and environmental protection, the need to accommodate the rising urban demand in a sustainable way is therefore of high priority. In order to confront the challenges above, some key technologies related to urban power systems have been developed rapidly, such as voltage source converter-based high voltage direct current transmission technology, flexible DC transmission/distribution grid technology, and large-scale new energy such as renewables and energy storage integration in urban areas, that would be of great importance as efficient and sustainable development options in both meeting the increasing urban power demand and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It can be predicted that the next-generation urban power grid is characterized by high penetrations of renewable energies and high penetrations of power electronic converter devices. Moreover, the rapid integration of flexible loads with the characteristics of source and load, such as electric vehicles, further brings more uncertainties into the urban power system. These factors subsequently enable the rapid development of urban power grids into novel and complex forms. There is a significant change in “generation-grid-load” for next-generation urban power systems, particularly the high penetrations of renewable energies and high penetrations of power electronic devices into the generation, transmission, and distribution areas have great impacts on urban power systems control, operation, and stability. While facing more challenges and risks in system control, stability, and operation, the next generation urban power grids have better controllability with the increasing penetration of power converter interfaced devices. Therefore, the innovation of the technology and control strategy for the next urban power grids becomes essential.