The Influence of the Increasing Penetration of Photovoltaic Generation on Integrated Transmission-Distribution Power Systems

Abstract

Power system simulations should be adapted to be applicable to the trends that are currently evoked by the energy transition. This transition is pushing our power system from a traditional hierarchical system to a modern interactive system. In order to keep the supply and transport of energy safe and reliant, we need to change the way we perform power system simulations. This requires a comprehensive framework in which both transmission and distribution systems are simultaneously analyzed. This chapter describes how transmission and distribution networks are modeled together as an integrated network and used to do steady-state operation analysis in order to assess the interaction of these two networks. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of the increasing amount of imbalance at distribution level on the transmission network that is evoked by the increase of highly variable resources and loads at distribution level. This influence is not taken into account in traditional power system simulations as power networks are analyzed on its own. We show that the hybrid network representation is a powerful tool to analyze modern power systems and that the effects of increased PV penetration under normal operating conditions are limited.