Local Reactive Power Control Methods for Overvoltage Prevention of Distributed Solar Inverters in Low-Voltage Grids

Demirok, Erhan; González, Pablo Casado; Frederiksen, K. H. B.; Séra, Dezső; Rodriguez, P.; Teodorescu, Remus

doi:10.1109/jphotov.2011.2174821

Cited by 439 publications

(248 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Also Q absorption near the start of an LV feeder has little benefit in reducing LV voltages. Q-loading at the start of the feeder has little benefit [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An evaluation of options to mitigate voltage rise due to increasing PV penetration in distribution networks

Carter

Calais

et al. 2017

Renew. Energy Environ. Sustain.

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Abstract. Australia and most other countries are adopting renewable energy generation as the dominant means of reducing dependence on fossil fuels. This has been made more feasible by the exponential take-up of solar -photovoltaic (PV) systems and their concurrent production scale-up and cost decline. Rooftop solar PV, combined with battery storage, seems likely to be the dominant means of providing household electricity needs. In response to the technical challenges from rooftop PV, network utilities have implemented various low cost options to cope with PV's impact on network voltages. However, if we want this clean energy technology to fully utilise the available roof space and eventually meet residential electricity needs, additional hardware, control and commercial options will need to be adopted by both network utilities and their customers to overcome the technical barriers, especially voltage rise. This paper presents the authors' evaluations of options to mitigate voltage rise, including operating solar inverters with reactive power absorption (var absorbing), dependent only on solar power output or operating the solar inverters in a volt-var response mode (voltage droop control) where the inverter adjusts its reactive power (Q) in response to changes in its terminal voltage -Q(V). This paper also considers the fulltime Q(V) option, where an inverter's reactive power capacity is independent of solar conditions -statcom mode. The network utility option of using line drop compensation (LDC -used on long rural MV feeders) on urban MV feeders during daylight hours is assessed to lessen voltage rise on LV feeders with low net loading or reverse power flow due to high solar PV generation. The paper concludes that a combination of solar inverters performing fast fulltime voltage droop control outside a voltage deadband (statcom mode) and HV/MV substation transformers with slow acting daytime LDC mitigates voltage rise, whilst limiting feeder reactive power requirements.

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“…Also Q absorption near the start of an LV feeder has little benefit in reducing LV voltages. Q-loading at the start of the feeder has little benefit [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An evaluation of options to mitigate voltage rise due to increasing PV penetration in distribution networks

Carter

Calais

et al. 2017

Renew. Energy Environ. Sustain.

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“…These can be classified as centralised approaches based on Optimal Power Flow (OPF) [1]- [4], distributed [5], or local [6], each requiring different levels of communication infrastructure. Typical objectives used in these methods include minimizing active power curtailment of renewables [3] and network losses [2], while satisfying power quality constraints in terms of voltages limits and thermal loading of the branches.…”

Section: Motivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Centralised Control Method for Tackling Unbalances in Active Distribution Grids

Karagiannopoulos

Aristidou

Hug

2018

2018 Power Systems Computation Conference (PSCC)

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“…Recently, this technique has been also employed in LV grids to prevent the over voltage problem [19,20]. With the droop method, the reactive power Q i is calculated by the local measured voltage V i as indicated in (1)…”

Section: Control Strategymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditionally, the over voltage problem has been solved by reactive power compensation methods [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. The conventional technique is based on a droop function [19,20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative study of reactive power control methods for photovoltaic inverters in low‐voltage grids

Momeneh¹,

Castilla²,

Miret³

et al. 2016

IET Renewable Power Generation

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The increasing installation of photovoltaic panels in low-voltage grids causes an over voltage problem, especially during high production and low consumption periods. Generally the over voltage problem is overcome by implementing reactive power control methods. The advances in networked control systems theory and practice create new scenarios where reactive power control methods can offer additional features and benefits. To explore these new capabilities, this study presents two new reactive power control methods that exploit the networked approach. These two methods are evaluated in a comparative reference framework that also includes the base-line case where no reactive control method is applied, the conventional droop method approach, and a solution based on a near-optimal location of a high power STATCOM derived from one of the new proposed networked methods. The main merit factors used to compare the control methods are the maximum voltage across the distribution grid, the power factor in the point of common coupling, and the total power losses and economic cost of the installation. With these merit factors, the advantages and limitations of the new and existing control methods are revealed and discussed. A useful discussion for selecting the best control solution is also reported.

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Local Reactive Power Control Methods for Overvoltage Prevention of Distributed Solar Inverters in Low-Voltage Grids

Cited by 439 publications

References 3 publications

An evaluation of options to mitigate voltage rise due to increasing PV penetration in distribution networks

An evaluation of options to mitigate voltage rise due to increasing PV penetration in distribution networks

A Centralised Control Method for Tackling Unbalances in Active Distribution Grids

Comparative study of reactive power control methods for photovoltaic inverters in low‐voltage grids

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