A multi-stakeholder potential game model in active distribution network considering the bounded rationality of small users

The increase in the penetration rate of distributed renewable energy sources has brought unprecedented challenges to the economic and stable operation of the active distribution network (ADN). To improve the operating efficiency and total benefits of the ADN, it is necessary to establish an optimization model considering the stakeholders’ market behavior and the game relationship among them under the market environment. In this paper, a multi-stakeholder potential game model in the ADN considering the bounded rationality of small users is proposed. The game relationships among five stakeholders, including the distributed photovoltaic generation aggregators, the distributed wind power aggregators, the energy storage operators, the large users and the load aggregators, are modeled on an hourly time scale. Existing research has proved that the game equilibrium of the potential game model must exist. Based on the information transfer and the strategy update mode on the social network, a demand response evolutionary game model for small users is established. Moreover, a distributed algorithm is designed to obtain the pure strategy equilibrium. Finally, a case with five stakeholders and 160 small users is used to verify the rationality and feasibility of the proposed model.