Impact of Residential Photovoltaic Generation in Smart Grid Operation: Real Example

Abstract This paper assesses the impact of residential photo-voltaic (PV) generation on the operation of a distribution smart grid in Chile. In particular, we focus on distribution losses and bus voltage regulation. This smart grid is composed of three hundred residential customers and belongs to the Central Inter-connected System (CIS) of Chile. A set of scenarios with different daily load profiles and generating levels are considered. The demand of each client is obtained by measuring the total demand at the distribution transformer and is disaggregating it using consumption profiles. The possibility of reactive power injection through the PV power converters is also considered. To estimate its maximum impact, the reactive power injection is calculated by minimizing network losses through optimal power flow. The location of the PV generation is a random variable with uniform distribution, and the expected losses and voltage profiles are determined using the Monte Carlo method. Three levels of PV generation are considered, 5%, 10% and 15% of the total distribution load. As was expected, the voltage in all the buses of the system increases when reactive power is injected by the power converters of the PV generation. In addition, losses compared to the case without PV generation, decrease by 44% in the most favorable scenario and 1% in the worst case. An estimation for the 40% of residential customers in Chile, considering only 5% penetration of PV generation, give as more than 170.000 MWh of savings in generation per year.