The Voltage Regulation Role of Smart Inverters in Rural Distribution Systems: Testing Framework

With the proliferation of inverter-based distributed energy resources (DER), there is a potential of enabling more flexible operation of distribution systems with higher DER penetration. Therefore, one of the major IEEE DER interconnection standards was recently updated and released (IEEE 1547-2018) with its test standard (IEEE1547.1). The 2018 standard allows DER to provide grid services (e.g., voltage regulation, disturbance performance, voltage ride-through). This work developed and tested a framework, intended mainly for utilities, to study and understand the impact of employing smart inverters to perform voltage regulation services according to the updated standard. The general framework includes collecting historical data, conducting time step simulations, developing and executing a test plan on actual system, and analyzing collected data.