Voltage control of distribution network with a large penetration of photovoltaic generation using FACTS devices

In recent years, there has been a great deal of interest in distributed generation from viewpoints of environmental problems and energy saving measures. Thus, a lot of distributed generators will be connected to the distribution network in the future. However, increase of distributed generators, which convert natural energy into electric energy, raises concerns as to their adverse effects on the distribution network. Therefore, control of distribution networks using Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices is considered in order to adjust the voltage profile, and as a result more distributed generations can be installed into the networks. In this paper, four types of FACTS devices— Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC), Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) and self-commutated Back-To-Back converter (BTB)— are analyzed by comparison of required minimum capacity of the inverters in a residential distribution network with a large penetration of photovoltaic generations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 165(3): 16– 28, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20499