Achieving System‐Level Benefits in Solar Photovoltaic‐Rich Distribution Feeders Through Intelligent Control of Inverters

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a coordinated, optimized, cross‐phase inclusive iterative control with intelligent initialization (COCPIT‐II) methodology for regulating voltage in distribution systems with high levels of photovoltaic penetration. The proposed approach minimizes dependence on capacitor banks (CBs) and load tap changers (LTCs), leading to lower operating costs and also to lower future grid expansion costs. These system‐level benefits are quantified using a novel metric called threshold PV penetration (ThrPEN), and a strategy to compute ThrPEN is also developed. The proposed COCPIT‐II control methodology is shown to provide tight voltage regulation in a complex, real‐world, large distribution feeder over a wide range of operating conditions (day‐time, evening and night‐time instances), while also eliminating the need for all CBs and some LTCs and without resorting to any active power curtailment.