Turning distribution feeders into STATCOMs

Utilities implementing grid modernization programs, or facing challenges of increased level of renewable integration, are seeking tools that can provide distributed and dynamic volt-VAR control. This paper presents a distributed autonomous volt-VAR control approach that uses a large number of small rated VAR injection sources to convert a distribution feeder into a dynamically controllable VAR source. Field results from a 13 kV, 6 MW distribution feeder with 91 distributed controllable VAR sources each rated at 10 kVAR validate the proposed system-level control strategy to achieve independent control of Volts and VARs on distribution systems.