Enhancing the Photovoltaic Hosting Capacity in Low Voltage Distribution

Abstract

There has been an increase in the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems worldwide because of the push to reduce climate change as much as possible. Due to voltage and current limitations, the PV hosting capacity has been significantly reduced. To enhance PV hosting capacity in low voltage distribution networks, this research provides a viable strategy based on voltage control and dynamic voltage control using reactive power control with two different types of compensation including onload tap changing transformers as well reactive power controller with coordinated voltage management. For testing of developed strategy, the IEEE 123 standard bus systems is used to evaluate the maximum hosting capacity of different buses present in low voltage distribution system then to enhance the hosting capacity of specific bus via regulation using online tap changing transformers and reactive power compensation. The presented strategy is sufficiently effective and capable of dynamically controlling the voltages of low voltage distribution system with penetration of PV system hence enhancing the PV hosting capacity of distribution system.