Using Energy Storage Inverters of Prosumer Installations for Voltage Control in Low-Voltage Distribution Networks

Abstract

The paper includes the analysis of the operation of low-voltage prosumer installation consisting of receivers and electricity sources and equipped with a 3-phase energy storage system. The aim of the storage application is the management of active power within the installation to decrease the total power exchanged with the supplying network and thus reduce energy costs borne by the prosumer. A solution for the effective implementation of the storage system is presented. Apart from the active power management performed according to the prosumer’s needs, the storage inverter provides the ancillary service of voltage regulation in the network according to the requirements of the network operator. A control strategy involving algorithms for voltage regulation without prejudice to the prosumer’s interest is described in the paper. Reactive power is used first as a control signal and if the required voltage effect cannot be reached, then the active power in the controlled phase is additionally changed and the Energy Storage System (ESS) loading is redistributed in phases in such a way that the total active power set by the prosumer program remains unchanged. The efficiency of the control strategy was tested by means of a simulation model in the PSCAD/EMTDC program. The results of the simulations are presented.