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Title: On Distributed PV Hosting Capacity Estimation, Sensitivity Study, and Improvement

Journal Article · · IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy

This paper first studies the estimated distributed PV hosting capacities of seventeen utility distribution feeders using the Monte Carlo simulation based stochastic analysis, and then analyzes the sensitivity of PV hosting capacity to both feeder and photovoltaic system characteristics. Furthermore, an active distribution network management approach is proposed to maximize PV hosting capacity by optimally switching capacitors, adjusting voltage regulator taps, managing controllable branch switches and controlling smart PV inverters. The approach is formulated as a mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem and a genetic algorithm is developed to obtain the solution. Multiple simulation cases are studied and the effectiveness of the proposed approach on increasing PV hosting capacity is demonstrated.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1369125
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5D00-67598
Journal Information:
IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, Vol. 8, Issue 3; ISSN 1949-3029
Publisher:
IEEE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English