Abstract
This article investigates whether a reducedinformation Voltage Sensitivity Factor (VSF)-based constraint can reproduce the outcomes of a full-information optimal power flow (OPF) for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) voltage support in a medium-voltage distribution grid with an added high-power load. Using the CINELDI reference grid, we compare an explicit minimum-voltage-constrained benchmark with two VSF-based formulations in a profit-oriented BESS scheduling problem. Results show that a static VSF-based formulation closely reproduces the benchmark at the critical low-voltage node (node 96), with nearly identical active-power dispatch, only 1.05% lower profit over one month, and near-equivalent voltage compliance. In the compensated VSF case, any adverse voltage impact from active power (P) must be offset by reactive power (Q) from the BESS; this case shows no violations, while the uncompensated case shows only one marginal violation. The main difference is higher reactive-power utilization in the compensated case. Overall, the results indicate that VSF-based coordination is a promising reduced-information approach for distribution system operator (DSO)-BESS interaction. Future work should test robustness across broader operating conditions and evaluate adaptive or time-varying VSF formulations.