Decreasing the MV voltage setpoint to increase hosting capacity: impact on the grid losses and reactive power

The main French DSO Enedis is rolling out a new voltage management scheme to improve the integration of a massive number of distributed generators (DG) as well as end-use electrification evolutions. One key lever is to lower MV voltage setpoints at the secondary side of HV/MV transformers when it is necessary and corresponds to the techno-economic optimum. This paper addresses the impacts of such new settings on distribution networks technical losses and reactive power flows at the TSO/DSO interface. Sensitivity analyses are carried out for different study distribution networks, different voltage-dependent load model parameters, and more or less detailed LV grid models.