Impact of distributed generation and energy storage on power quality

Abstract

With electricity demand increase and the need to expand and diversify generating sources in pursuit of energy sustainability, the distributed generation (DG), from unconventional renewable sources, has been getting more and more space in the distribution system (DS). In Brazil, this DG dissemination is predominantly photovoltaic solar energy (PV) due to the characteristics and high levels of solar radiation. As this type of source depends on solar irradiation for energy conversion, the PV system is directly influenced by cloudiness, which causes part of the solar incidence to reflect in the clouds and may cause a drastic and abrupt reduction of the generated power. This phenomenon is difficult to predict, thus making PV systems an intermittent and considered supplementary source. Moreover, as it is an electronically processed generation source for power conversion and adequacy, there is the incidence of harmonic injection in the distribution network at the connection point. Due to the possible problems that DG can cause in DS, this paper presents an analysis of the impact on power quality (PQ) of a DS, considering different allocations, penetration levels, and system load. The study focus is on the Brazilian DS, so the system was adapted to the local reality through real dealership data.