INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL of RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH A.Manzoni and R.Castro, Vol.6, No.1, 2016 Microgeneration Impact on LV Distribution Grids: A Review of Recent Research on Overvoltage Mitigation Techniques António Manzoni*, Rui Castro**‡ *Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal ** INESC-ID/IST, University of Lisbon, Portugal ‡ Corresponding Author; Rui Castro, INESC-ID/IST, University of Lisbon, Portugal, Tel: +351 21 8417287,
[email protected] Received: 17.12.2015- Accepted:16.01.2016 Abstract-Nowadays, due to the increasing rate of microgeneration penetration in Low Voltage distribution networks, overvoltage and power quality issues are more likely to occur in a more and more bidirectional operating grid. This paper offers a recent review on the main techniques available to mitigate and regulate voltage profile: PV generation curtailment, reactive power support, automatic voltage regulation transformers, and battery or super-capacitors energy storage systems. Whenever possible, published results in real and test low voltage grids are called to support each given example. KeywordsOvervoltage mitigation techniques; PV curtailment; Reactive power support; OLTC transformers; Battery Energy Storage. List of acronyms 1. Introduction G – Microgeneration In the last years, there have been major efforts from PV – Photovoltaic governments all over the world and also from European EPIA – European Photovoltaic Industry Association organizations to grow a strong concept of environmental LV – Low Voltage awareness. People have been warned to change consumption DG – Distributed Generation patterns, to reduce fuel fossil consumption and carbon PF – Power Factor emissions. It is in this perspective that renewable energy and, DSO – Distribution System Operator specifically, microgeneration (G) concept arises.