Voltage Rise Mitigation Strategies for Low-Voltage Networks with High Photovoltaic Penetration

Integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) poses significant challenges for the operation and development of power systems, particularly regarding the sustenance of proper voltage levels. Solutions to this problem can involve network reinforcement, element upgrades, and/or demand-generation coordination. A comprehensive study has been conducted with a focus on voltage deviations caused by photovoltaic (PV) generation. Several strategies for voltage rise/drop mitigation are reviewed and compared, including the installation of shunt reactors, battery energy storage systems, line voltage regulators, transformers with on-load tap changers, and smart inverter control. The smart inverter control emerges as a readily available and effective solution, but its feasibility can be limited by the consumers’ penetration into the inverters’ operational logic.