VOLTAGE CONTROL IN LV DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS CONSIDERING INCREASING PENETRATION OF LOW CARBON TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract

While the increased penetration of low carbon technologies (LCT), e.g., distributed generators, electric vehicles (EV) and heat pumps (HP) in distribution networks offers several economic and environmental benefits, their uncontrolled operation can cause under-voltage and/or overloading issues to occur in these networks. The ability of storage devices to maintain distribution network security and reliability while facilitating the increased adoption of LCTs is an important and topical area of research. Consequently, this paper presents the findings of an investigation on how inverter-connected storage devices could help in removing network security violations caused by increased penetrations of EVs and HPs in a LV distribution network. Several simulations corresponding to different combinations of load, EV and HP growth scenarios are performed on an actual 400 V network model from Northern Ireland, and vulnerable nodes (experiencing under-voltages) and (overloaded) feeder sections are identified. Storage inverters are strategically placed at different points along the affected feeders, and it is demonstrated how appropriate P–Q injections from these devices can successfully eliminate the identified network security violations in the distribution network during hours of high demand from the EVs and HPs.