Clustering Method and Representative Feeder Selection for the California Solar Initiative

Technical Report · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1200658· OSTI ID:1200658

Broderick, Robert Joseph ^[1]; Williams, Joseph R. ^[1]; Munoz-Ramos, Karina ^[1]

---

1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

The screening process for DG interconnection procedures needs to be improved in order to increase the PV deployment level on the distribution grid. A significant improvement in the current screening process could be achieved by finding a method to classify the feeders in a utility service territory and determine the sensitivity of particular groups of distribution feeders to the impacts of high PV deployment levels. This report describes the utility distribution feeder characteristics in California for a large dataset of 8,163 feeders and summarizes the California feeder population including the range of characteristics identified and most important to hosting capacity. The report describes the set of feeders that are identified for modeling and analysis as well as feeders identified for the control group. The report presents a method for separating a utility's distribution feeders into unique clusters using the k-means clustering algorithm. An approach for determining the feeder variables of interest for use in a clustering algorithm is also described. The report presents an approach for choosing the feeder variables to be utilized in the clustering process and a method is identified for determining the optimal number of representative clusters.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1200658
• Report Number(s): SAND--2014-1443; 505416
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY