Improved Voltage Control in LV Grid-Connected PV System Using Active Power Curtailment with Battery Energy Storage System

The overvoltage condition that occurs as a result of reverse power flow and the intermittency of renewable energy resources is one of the major limitations to the integration of photovoltaic (PV) generation in a traditional grid. Research shows that this overvoltage problem associated with the integration of PV generators necessitates the construction of another grid network. An alternative to constructing a new distribution system, as a result of increasing power demand is the integration of voltage controllers to keep the voltage within the statutory limit. PowerWorld Simulator was used to model and examine the influence of PV generators on the voltage profile in a low voltage (LV) distribution system as a case study. The influence of PV location on a network has been analyzed as well. This paper details the proposed voltage control scheme, which is based on Droop-based Active Power Curtailment (APC) with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This was modeled and simulated in MATLAB/Simulink. The results show that incorporating this voltage controller into an LV network can increase the network hosting capacity whiles keeping the PCC voltage within the statutory limits.