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Effects of high penetration levels of photovoltaic generation Observations from field data

Effects of high penetration levels of photovoltaic generation Observations from field data. Amir Toliyat, Alexis Kwasinski and Fabian Uriarte The University of Texas at Austin Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Center for Electromechanics. Smart Grid Demonstration Project.

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Effects of high penetration levels of photovoltaic generation Observations from field data

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  1. Effects of high penetration levels of photovoltaic generationObservations from field data Amir Toliyat, Alexis Kwasinski and Fabian Uriarte The University of Texas at Austin Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Center for Electromechanics

  2. Smart Grid Demonstration Project • WHO? • Pecan Street Inc. • Research and development organization • Focus on PVs, EVs, energy storage, customer behavior • WHERE? • Austin, TX, USA • Mueller neighborhood

  3. Source: Pecan Street Inc.

  4. Scope • Study of PVs on power factor, voltage rise, voltage unbalance • Discussion is based on recorded (i.e., real) residential power consumption and PV generation data • MATLAB/Simulink computer • model of entire Mueller • distribution system used to • support the analysis • 735 homes, including • 178 grid-tied PV systems PV generation profiles of 178 homes

  5. Data • Monitoring equipment capture power consumption and PV power generation at 1-minute intervals • Equipment is located between utility meter and home’s service panel Household real power usage and generation for a single home on a summer day in Mueller. Time granularity is in one-minute intervals. (Source: Pecan Street Inc.)

  6. Distribution System Model • Two 12.47 kV three-phase feeders emanating from two different substations • 94 single-phase pad-mount distribution transformers • Ratings of 25, 50, 75, 100, or 167 kVA • 7.2 kV (line-to-ground) primary and a 240 V split-phase secondary • SimPowerSystemsblockset in MATLAB/Simulink • Phasor-based simulation type • 1-minute time step interval to match recorded data intervals • Simulation timespan set to 24 hours, or 1,440 minutes

  7. Circuit 3 (phase C) 12.47kV/7.2kV Circuit 5 (phase C) Circuit 2 (phase B) 12.47kV/7.2kV Circuit 1 (phase A) Circuit 4 (phase B)

  8. Power Factor • Residential grid-tied PV inverters normally operate at unity power factor, producing only real power • A large portion of • demanded real power is • provided from PVs; all of • reactive power provided • from grid • Utility experiences low • power factors with high • penetration of PVs Aggregate power flow behind residential distribution transformer in presence of PV generation

  9. Total consumption and generation of Mueller: 735 homes (178 homes with PV arrays). • Power factor attains a value as low as 0.465 • Power factor remains below 0.9 between 9:23 and 16:31

  10. Voltage Rise • Voltage rise is expected when power is injected into distribution system from load side • Voltage drops along power lines are reduced • PVs may adversely affect voltage levels of other customers • High voltage levels are undesirable • May reduce equipment lifetime • May increase power consumption without providing noticeable improvement in performance • Voltage levels are required to be within ±5% of nominal voltage

  11. (a) (b) Voltage profiles for all 94 transformers (primary sides). (a) 3D view. (b) Front view. Voltage levels in Mueller are within ±5% of nominal (7.2 kV line-to-ground) even when PV systems are at their peak power generation time.

  12. Voltage Unbalance • Voltage unbalance is a consequence of line voltages not being equal • Caused by uneven distribution of single-phase loads on a three-phase system • PV sources also contribute to unbalance as they generate power on only one phase (and, contrary to load’s phase-assignment, PV are integrated to the grid without control to which phase they are connected) • Unbalance of 2.5% to 3% or greater is unacceptably high • Calculated as:

  13. (a) (b) Voltage unbalance. (a) Three-phase rms voltage simulated at the feeder. (b) Percent voltage unbalance. Voltage unbalance in Mueller is well within recommended range despite high penetration of residential PV generation

  14. Conclusion • Effects of residential grid-tied PV sources was studied on a power distribution grid serving an area of Austin, TX • Study was based entirely on recorded field data • MATLAB/Simulink computer model was developed to support the analysis by estimating phase voltages and branch currents • Although PVs help reduce overall real power supplied by utility, the power factor decreases to significantly low levels • Effects of conventional grid-tied PV sources could be severe if observations from Mueller are extended to a widespread deployment in an entire city or country

  15. …continued • Several distribution transformers in Mueller were noted to experience a reversal in the flow of real power during times when PV generation was abundant • Even though voltage rise and voltage unbalance were expected in Mueller, these variables were maintained within appropriate limits • These issues may be more noticeable with “weak” power grid feeders and laterals • Stability problems may be observed if an area with significant PV penetration of grid-tied inverters is isolated to form a microgrid (supported by other power generation source, such a diesel generators) • These issues could be avoided if inverters that allow for reactive power control are used instead

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