Technical and economic evaluation of voltage regulation strategies for distribution grids with a high amount of fluctuating dispersed generation units

A high amount of fluctuating dispersed generation units causes voltage problems in supply areas with low load density and long distribution lines. Innovative and smart solutions to these problems must be considered alongside conventional grid expansion in order to achieve an efficient electricity supply. In the context of a research project, which is partly funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, several alternative approaches for solving voltage problems are being identified and evaluated. The different approaches range from voltage control units and reactive power management systems to a change of grid structures. In this paper, several voltage regulation units are proposed and their benefit for distribution grids with a high amount of fluctuating dispersed generation units is evaluated.