The behaviour of a low voltage distribution network with crescent presence of photovoltaic generation and energy storage elements

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the increasing integration of distributed energy resources in the low voltage distribution grid. Considering the current increasing of distributed photovoltaic generation in Brazil, there is a deterioration of specific indices related to power quality, such as overvoltage and voltage unbalance. In this sense, a survey of these problems, the severity assessment via simulation of a real system and the proposal of improvement in the associated indexes using energy storage devices are made. The resulting analyses contemplate both the current reality of growth in the distributed photovoltaic generation and the joint integration of these generators with energy storage systems, thus enabling a comparison of results focusing on the electricity grid impacts. The study has improved the network's operation, reducing the power quality aggravating factors and increasing the local consumption of the energy generated locally. The total losses on the original network were reduced by up to 52.6%, the voltage drop to 74.7% and the voltage rise was completely eliminated.