Jicheng Liu, Hongyan Bao, Lin Zhu, Jiakang Sun
The characteristics of the new power system, such as the high proportion of renewable energy access and enhanced source-load interaction, have driven the distribution network to transform from a traditional role in power distribution to a participant in system balance. The active collaborative optimization of the distribution network is an important guarantee for achieving this transformation. This paper reviews the research progress on the collaborative optimization of active distribution networks: Firstly, it sorts out three core mechanisms, namely hierarchical and zonal collaboration, market and operation collaboration, and multi-dimensional collaboration, and clarifies the functional positioning and coupling relationship of each mechanism. Secondly, analyze the application paths of supporting technologies such as distributed resource aggregation, operation control, federated learning, and multi-agent systems, and compare the advantages, disadvantages, and applicable scenarios of 3 types of optimization methods: centralized collaborative optimization methods, distributed collaborative optimization methods, and adaptive collaborative optimization methods. Thirdly, by combining three typical scenarios of renewable energy consumption, dynamic load balance, and resilience enhancement, this paper expounds the practical value of collaborative optimization in the entire chain of “assessment - planning - operation”, and reveals the significant value of the technical chain and related bottleneck issues through international cases. Finally, future breakthrough directions such as the construction of electricity-carbon-hydrogen flow coupling networks, blockchain-based trusted games, and the balance between data privacy and collaborative efficiency are proposed, providing theoretical references and technical paths for the high-quality construction of active distribution networks under the new power system.