Dynamic volt-watt control strategy to improve fairness while mitigating overvoltage in distribution system due to high penetration of PV
Loading...
Date
2024-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of New Brunswick
Abstract
The risk of overvoltage problems due to high penetration of distributed generation is a growing issue in low-voltage distribution networks. The use of Smart Inverters (SI) in the distribution system can help regulate voltage by controlling active and reactive power generation through volt-watt and volt-var droop control strategies. Conventional volt-watt and volt-var control methods use static parameters, which can lead to unnecessary curtailment of photovoltaics (PV) power, lower power factor, and/or reduction in PV hosting capacity. We propose two different algorithms that dynamically shape the volt-watt curve based on the voltage sensitivity of the PV nodes. Unlike centralized approaches, we adopt a distributed control strategy that minimizes reliance on extensive communication infrastructure, thereby improving system resilience. The proposed methods are simple to implement and require minimal communication among system components, enabling effective local control without the complexity of centralized coordination. To assess the performance of the proposed algorithms, we used the IEEE 37-bus system as a test network. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of these strategies in enhancing fairness in PV curtailment and reducing overall curtailment levels. The proposed methods were implemented and evaluated through a co-simulation platform integrating the OpenDSS power simulator and Python, demonstrating their practical applicability and robustness in a simulated distribution system environment.