Voltage support study of smart PV inverters on a high-photovoltaic penetration utility distribution feeder

摘要

This paper reports on tools and methodologies developed to study the impact of adding rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems, with and without the ability to provide reactive power, on the primary voltage profile of a distribution feeder. Simulation results are provided from a study of a SDG&E utility distribution feeder. The simulation model of the feeder was built in OpenDSS and verified by comparing the simulated voltages to field measurements. First, all PV inverters were set to operate at unity power factor, and the impact on feeder voltages was analyzed. Then simulations were conducted with voltage support activated for all the smart PV inverters. These included different constant power factor settings and Volt/VAr controls. Modeling results quantify and illustrate the ability of these smart inverters to provide reactive power that impacts the primary voltage.