HonoursThesisELEC4712/4713,EngineeringProjectELEC4710/4711/ELEC5220/5221

Voltage control in distribution networks with high penetration of PVs

Level:HonoursThesisELEC4712/4713,EngineeringProjectELEC4710/4711/ELEC5220/5221
Supervisor:DrGregorVerbic

Project Description:

Electricpower systems are experiencing profound transformation driven by various factors. Bearing in mind
thefactthatmostoftoday'selectricalenergyisproducedusingCO2emittingfossilfuels,thereisanobvious
needtoswitchtorenewableenergysources.Inordertoincreasethepenetrationofrenewable,governments
around the world have introduced various subsidies, which may come in different forms. In Australia,
penetration of solar photovoltaics is subsidized through feedintariffs that differ from state to state. Some
optedforgrosstariffs(NSWandACT),whiletheotherschosetogofornettariffs.Theintroductionofnetfeed
in tariffs has more that achieved its goal to increase the penetration of PV generation; however it has also
causedmanyproblems,mainlyrelatedtoincreasedvoltagesinthelowvoltagenetworksintimeswhenlow
demandcoincideswithhighPVpenetration.
The aim of this project is thus to analyse the impact PVs on voltages in lowvoltage networks by means of
computer simulation using a dedicated power system simulation software package DIgSILENT under
representative operation conditions and to propose voltage control measures to mitigate negative
consequencesofPVpenetration.

Requirements:

Solidknowledgeofloadflowanalysisandpossiblytimedomainsimulationistheprerequisiteinthisproject.
Criticalanalyticalskillsandinnovationarealsoessential.Studentswhoareinterestedinfurtherstudyinthe
areaofpowersystemoperationandcontrolareparticularlyencouragedtoapply.Thesimulationswillbedone
inDIgSILENT,howeverpriorknowledgeofthetoolisnotrequired.

References (starting point, not an exhaustive list)

1. N.Jenkins,J.B.Ekanayake,G.Strbac:DistributedGeneration,IET,2009.
2. M.H.J.Bollen,F.Hassan,IntegrationofDistributedGenerationinthePowerSystem,Wiley,2011.

TheUniversityofSydney|SchoolofEIE 1 Semester1,2015