Optimised Zone Substation MV Voltage Management to Increase Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Hosting Capacity

Low Voltage distribution networks are undergoing unprecedented changes with consumers rapidly adopting rooftop solar PV, battery technologies, and electric vehicles. To enable the continued integration of DERs and to ensure distribution networks remain safe, reliable, and efficient, a combination of network and non-network solutions needs to be deployed. Among various solutions, dSTATCOM has been shown as an effective method to increase DER hosting capacity and delay the need for more costly physical augmentation of the network.

This one year project will utilise a novel solution to manage challenges introduced by DERs in power distribution networks. It will leverage Planet Ark Power’s unique power electronics and software solution, eleXsys, as the core element and will demonstrate novel LV and MV voltage management techniques for zone substation, supporting 100% penetration of distributed energy resources. The project will carry out a comprehensive analysis of the network hosting capacity improvements using eleXsys technology. The outcome of the project will inform future trials to deploy eleXsys in DER-rich networks.