Area EPS and Distributed Resources protection best practices

Driven by technical and environmental reasons, it is expected that future increases in electrical demand will be met through the integration of high penetration levels of Distributed Resources (DR) (or distributed generation) into distribution networks. Such integration will introduce new benefits to utilities and their customers; however, it will also bring new challenges to distribution systems planning and operation such as the perturbation of the utility protection system. A working group, including Canadian and US members representing utilities, manufacturers and private consultants, was established to develop protection scheme options for DR interconnection to utility grids. This paper presents the identified best practice protection schemes for both three wire and four wire distribution systems with DRs. One traditional scheme, currently adopted by utilities, and four new proposed schemes are presented.