Voltage management of distributed generation in distribution networks

Utility power systems are faced to an increasing number of small size producers requiring interconnection, particularly to the low voltage (LV) network. Since most distribution systems are not designed to accept large scale power injections, these small generation units may impact on their interconnected networks. The quality of the supplied energy may be altered, and the reliability and the safety of the whole distribution system from LV to medium voltage (MV) levels may be affected. The aim of this paper is to establish a new methodology to find the best location for remotely controlled distributed generators (DG). As global optimizations with multi-objectives functions may be hazardous, and may lead to different solutions (locally optimal), the goal of the method is to provide an expert analysis of the system, to help the optimization process. The proposed methodology has been validated with a particular case of voltage profile (LV/MV). The test-system used for this study is a real urban network containing 11 feeders with 2 transformers of 36 MVA. One feeder was simulated with DG and managed.