Equipment loading and voltage unbalance in the distribution network with distributed PVs

One of the value attributes of photovoltaic distributed generation (PV-DG) is the offset of feeder currents which in turn reduces the overall feeder loading. In addition, for remote nodes at the end of the distribution network with high voltage unbalance tendency, PV-DG can be used to reduce this unbalance factor and its associated adverse impacts. This paper discusses the impact of distributed PVs on the equipment loading and voltage unbalance factor of the distribution network. Impact analysis has been carried out on the IEEE-13 distribution bus at different penetration levels using the Open-source Distribution System Simulator (OpenDSS). The results showed that for such highly loaded distribution network, PV-DG can be used to offset feeder current, active power demand, equipment loading and voltage unbalance. In addition, we use typical localized average temperature, solar irradiance and load demand profiles in this interconnection study.