Maximum PV generation estimation method for residential low voltage feeders

Abstract Growing penetrations of distributed PV generation in electrical networks pose new challenges for electricity industry operation and planning. In particular, distribution network operators are now facing reduced and even reversed power flows at times of high PV generation and low load. This has a range of impacts of including, notably, voltage rise in the network. Existing planning tools are not necessarily appropriate in this changing context. This paper presents a novel method for simply and easily estimating the maximum PV generation that can be integrated into low voltage feeders while avoiding excessive voltage levels. This exercise would generally require the use of power flow analysis software. The proposed method, however, provides maximum PV generation estimates that are close to those calculated by such tools while being easily implemented in standard spreadsheet software. The method can therefore simplify the task of distribution network operators in planning and operating their networks when facing growing PV penetrations on their low voltage feeders.