Adaptive Asset Congestion Management in PV-Rich LV Networks

Abstract

The rapid uptake of residential-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems in low-voltage (LV) networks is creating technical issues such as voltage rise and asset congestion (i.e., transformer, cables). An alternative to traditional time-consuming and expensive mitigation approaches, such as network reinforcements, could be to actively manage controllable elements such as PV systems. This work proposes an adaptive centralized asset congestion management (ACACM) technique. It is generic as it only requires knowledge of the total PV installed capacity, the rated capacity of the assets and measurements at the substation. Based on irradiance measurements, it estimates total PV generation and demand, making it possible to constantly calculate the maximum PV generation that avoids congestion issues. Its effectiveness is demonstrated using a real UK LV network with 100% PV penetration. The generic nature of the ACACM makes it a practical and scalable solution to manage PV-rich LV networks.