Hierarchical autonomous operational mechanism for new-type distribution systems enabling scalable load-side flexibility interactions

With the large-scale integration of distributed renewable energy, the rapid development of electric vehicles, and the active participation of diverse energy consumers, distribution systems are undergoing profound transformations. These systems are increasingly characterized by low-carbon, distributed, decentralized, and digitalized features, highlighting the urgent need to unlock the flexible interaction potential of massive load-side resources. However, the highly heterogeneous types, widely dispersed geographical locations, and temporally and spatially diverse response behaviors of load-side resources bring about significant challenges in management complexity, coordination difficulty, and computational responsiveness. To address these issues, this review paper systematically investigates a hierarchical autonomous operation mechanism for new-type distribution systems that support flexible interaction among massive load-side resources. First, it analyzes the key challenges associated with large-scale interactive participation of load-side resources. Then, a three-layer autonomous operation architecture, comprising transformer district-level autonomy, feeder-level coordination, and substation-level supervision, is proposed, with a clear definition of the resources, control strategies, and interaction mechanisms at each level. Next, the paper explores typical flexible interaction strategies under this hierarchical framework, focusing on representative load-side resources such as electric vehicles, building loads, and high-energy-consuming industrial parks. Finally, it discusses spatiotemporal flexibility-oriented regulation strategies and reviews relevant optimization algorithms. This review aims to provide theoretical foundations and technical support for enhancing the flexibility of load-side resource interaction, promoting safe and efficient operation of new-type distribution systems, and improving the balance between power supply and demand.