Impact of distributed power generation at the customer

Abstract

In collaboration with the Distributed System Operator (DSO) at Hvaler which is Norgesnett, a weak grid is simulated in NETBAS. The aim with the simulation is to study the impact clouds have on the production at the solar panels since the production drops locally at the customers from passing clouds. Also, the impact this has on the DSO with the requirements given from § 3.4 in the Norwegian Directive on Quality of supply (FoL) regarding ∆Ustationary are considered. The simulations are conducted with different scenarios which illustrate the power production in the solar panels when cloudy. In collaboration with the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway) solar data is used to get a more realistic picture of the sun condition at Hvaler and the corresponding scenarios. The main findings are that the passing clouds had a large impact on the voltage drop at the customers simulated in the weak grid at Søndre Sandøy. Also the objects at Søndre Sandøy without solar panels are affected by the clouds reducing the power output from the objects with solar panels. As a result, both of the objects with and without solar panels exceeded the requirement given from FoL § 3.4 in some of the scenarios. The conclusion is that clouds had a significant impact on the customers simulated at the weak grid at Hvaler, resulting in a voltage drop which gives challenges for the DSO regarding FoL.