Distribution System Voltage Performance Analysis for High-Penetration PV

Abstract

Distributed generation can have an impact on distribution feeder voltage regulation, and distributed solar photovoltaics (PV) are no exception. As the penetration level of solar PV rises over the coming decades, reverse power flow on the distribution feeder will happen more frequently and the associated voltage rise might lead to violations of voltage boundaries defined by ANSI C84.1. The severity of possible voltage problems depends on the relative size and location of distributed PV generation and loads, distribution feeder topology, and method of voltage regulation. In this paper, an illustrative distribution system feeder is assumed, and various case studies are conducted. The performance of the commonly used distribution voltage regulation methods under reverse power flow are investigated and presented. Voltage performance of the feeder, and the flow of active and reactive power are studied under different loading assumptions, and different assumptions of PV inverters' participation. The paper also explores the system performance using coordinated controls of inverters and utility equipment.