Feeder Voltage Management through Smart Inverter Advanced Functions and Battery Energy Storage System

Increased environmental concerns, changing regulations, and government subsidies have played a key role in incenting renewable generation. Solar generation has been increasingly proliferating among residential customers in many US states and Canadian provinces. Photovoltaic generation is connected through DC-AC inverters. The operation of these inverters has been a focal point of discussion in recent years. The California Independent System Operator has chaired the development of Rule 21, which was the base for the subsequent UL1741SA standard, paving the way for the upcoming revision of IEEE 1547. Canadian standards are following suit, with upcoming revisions to CSA C22.3 No 9 and C22.2 No 257. These standards require new inverters to feature autonomous functions such as Volt-Watt and Volt-VAR, as well as provision for compatibility with centralized management systems. This paper analyzes the impact of PV curtailment through the Volt-Watt function, as compared with the installation of a Battery Energy Storage System, on voltage management of one feeder of a Canadian electric utility. Technical constraints and economic factors are considered.