Behavior of Active Losses in a Real Electrical Distribution System with Insertion of Photovoltaic Generation

Abstract

In the present work, an evaluation of the behavior of the active losses of an electrical energy distribution system that supplies residential users of the City of Mar del Plata (Argentina) was carried out, in which distributed photovoltaic generation was incorporated. Using computational simulation tools, a real network was modeled comprising a medium voltage feeder, medium to low voltage transformers, low voltage secondary distribution, user consumption, and solar generation sources in homes. From the simulation of the operation of the network in different photovoltaic generation insertion scenarios and for a calendar year (2019), it was possible to evaluate the behavior of different electrical variables of the system, and in particular those related to its active losses. Based on the simulations and results, it was possible to break down the composition of active losses and identify those components that influence energy savings from traditional generation systems and that contribute to an improvement in the efficiency of the distribution system; although in realistic photovoltaic generation insertion scenarios, these contributions are not significant.