Adapted low voltage network for a random scenario of photovoltaic distributed generation in Argentina

Abstract

This work shows a technical-economic procedure to determine the adapted network in a low voltage (LV) residential electrical system with photovoltaic distributed generation (PVDG). A network is adapted when it is designed to minimize the total fixed and variable costs and optimize the equipment to adequately satisfy the demand (both the current demand and its expected growth). The study will consider that the decision to install PVDG is exogenous. The method is based on the concept of Hosting Capacity (HC). This paper analyzes four typical LV networks in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. A statistical power flow solves the networks. We obtain the statistical HC for each network, and the HC is used to carry out the technical-economic study of the network. Finally, we establish the adapted network for each level of penetration. The results show that, without PVDG penetration, there are different network options with different costs per km². When PVDG penetration increases, the networks with the lowest cost per km² are discarded (due to their FCE), and only the networks with the highest cost per km² survive. Once 70% penetration of PVDG has been exceeded, none of the studied networks is considered an option.