Voltage Management in Distribution Systems in Australia
摘要
The rapid integration of distributed energy resources (DER), including rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery energy storage systems (BESSs), is fundamentally reshaping distribution network operation. This transition from traditional unidirectional power flows to increasingly bidirectional electricity exchange presents new challenges for voltage management. Traditional voltage regulation strategies, which were not designed to accommodate reverse flows from distributed generation (DG), have contributed to the occurrence of overvoltages, while the growing uptake of price-responsive DER, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and BESS, has led to incidents of undervoltage from coincident demand. Consequently, distribution networks must now manage a broader range of power flows, from peak demand to reverse power flows of equal or even greater magnitude, thereby expanding the voltage regulation requirements. In response, voltage management techniques such as line drop compensation (LDC) have had to be adapted and new technologies such as smart inverters, static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs), and voltage-regulating distribution transformers (VRDT) have been introduced. This chapter aims to inform network operators, planners, and policymakers on best practices to cost-effectively deliver acceptable steady-state voltages within active distribution systems in the context of evolving energy generation and consumption patterns. While the chapter focuses on the Australian experience—with one of the highest per capita uptakes of distributed PV in the world and the need to transition from a nominal 240 V system to a 230 V system—many of the voltage management issues discussed are applicable to distribution systems worldwide.