Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Photovoltaics in utility distribution systems

Journal Article · · Solar Today; (USA)
OSTI ID:6125123
 [1]
  1. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., San Ramon, CA (USA)
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG and E) in California recently conducted a study to develop methods of evaluating cost saving applications of photovoltaic (PV) generation strategically sited to offset distribution capacity costs. To maximize benefits to the utility transmission and distribution (T and D) system, they looked for sites where PV could relieve thermal overloads of transformers and conductors. Overheating can occur when the current and power flowing through them exceeds their rating. Broadly speaking, the benefits of the PV plant fall into two categories, system benefits and distributed benefits. System benefits are energy, generation capacity and electrical loss savings. Distributed benefits include prolonged lifetimes of lines and transformers, less need for capacitors for voltage support (kVAR support) and potentially increased reliability by enabling customer load to be recovered more quickly after circuit outages.
OSTI ID:
6125123
Journal Information:
Solar Today; (USA), Journal Name: Solar Today; (USA) Vol. 4:5; ISSN SOTOE
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English