PV Hosting Capacity in LV Networks by Combining Customer Voltage Sensitivity and Reliability Analysis

Abstract

This paper investigates voltage regulation in low voltage (LV) networks under different loading conditions of a supply network, with increased levels of distributed generation, and in particular with a diverse range of locational solar photovoltaic (PV) penetration. This topic has been researched extensively, with beneficial impacts expected up to a certain point when reverse power flows begin to negatively impact customers connected to the distribution system. In this paper, a voltage-based approach that utilizes novel voltage-based reliability indices is proposed to analyse the risk and reliability of the LV supply feeder, as well as its PV hosting capacity. The proposed indices are directly comparable to results from a probabilistic reliability assessment. The operation of the network is simulated for different PV scenarios to investigate the impacts of increased PV penetration, the location of PV on the feeder, and loading conditions of the MV supply network on the reliability results. It can be seen that all reliability indices improve with increased PV penetration levels when the supply network is heavily loaded and conversely deteriorate when the supply network is lightly loaded. Moreover, bus voltages improve when an on-load tap changer is fitted at the secondary trans-former which leads to better reliability performance as the occurrence and duration of low voltage violations are reduced in all PV scenarios. The approach in this paper is opposed to the conventional reliability assessment, which considers sustained interruptions to customers caused by failure of network components, and thus contributes to a comprehensive analysis of quality of service by considering transient events (i.e., voltage related) in the LV distribution network.

Increasing Distributed Generation Hosting Capacity Based on a Sequential Optimization Approach Using an Improved Salp Swarm Algorithm

“…A Monte Carlo simulation is performed in [16] to compute the maximum hosting capacity in the standard distribution test system of South Korea based on the fast voltage stability index, while a deterministic approach is applied in [17] for a simple and quick assessment of HC in a radial grid within the University of São Paulo campus. On the other hand, a new risk and reliability perspective for HC analysis is proposed in [18] by combining users' voltage sensitivity and reliability analysis in low-voltage networks. To address the HC of the transmission grid for distributed energy sources, the authors of [19] consider transient stability evaluation instead of steady-state analysis, while a market-based approach is proposed in [20], in which a bi-level optimization model is formulated, where both RES recovery investment and market clearing process are considered in order to maximize the HC.…”