A Distribution Static Synchronous Compensator Application to Mitigate Voltage Variation for Distribution Feeders

With the growing penetration of distributed energy resources (DER), the accompanying challenges have led utilities to limit the hosting capacities of DER installations on distribution feeders. A distribution static synchronous compensator (DSTATCOM) is a power electronic device to provide dynamic injections and absorption of reactive power into the distribution grid with more flexible and reliable voltage control and power quality improvement. A distributed energy resources management system (DERMS) is developed to provide more effective control of a DSTATCOM that can help substantially increase hosting capacity and mitigate overvoltage problems with the existing feeder. A Taiwan power company’s (Taipower) feeder is selected for computer simulation, and the DSTATCOM is employed in the test feeder to demonstrate the effectiveness of the DSTATCOM in improving the overvoltage problems. The voltage/reactive power (Volt/VAR) control of the DSTATCOM helps reduce overvoltage/voltage fluctuations as the DER output increases.