Grid Value Analysis of Medium-Voltage Back-to-Back Converter on DER Hosting Enhancement

Xiangqi Zhu, Akanksha Singh, Barry Mather

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus Citations

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the value that can be realized by medium-voltage back-to-back (MVB2B) converters in terms of the increased utilization rate of distributed energy resources (DERs) and the improvement in operational conditions. A systematic, transferrable, and scalable methodology has been designed to analyze and quantify the increased DER value from three perspectives: 1) curtailment reduction of the DER generation, 2) size reduction of the energy storage needed to otherwise realize DER hosting levels, and 3) hosting capacity improvement of the DERs compared to the base distribution circuit capability. In the case study, the proposed methodology is applied to two utility distribution systems for analysis and quantification of the grid value of the MVB2B converter, installed in the distribution circuit, and provided to the solar photovoltaic (PV) DERs. The analysis results demonstrate that the MVB2B converter can deliver significant value to the PV hosting enhancement of two adjacent distribution systems when they are connected by the MVB2B converter. Based on this case study, this paper analyzes and summarizes the approximate realized grid value of the MVB2B converter for distribution systems dominated by different shares of customer classes.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)553-563
Number of pages11
JournalIEEE Transactions on Power Delivery
Volume38
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 1986-2012 IEEE.

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-5D00-79154

Keywords

  • DER
  • distribution system
  • grid value
  • medium-voltage back-to-back (MVB2B) converter
  • PV

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