Integration of multiple PV units in urban power distribution systems

The amount of power and energy that can be injected into the distribution system by dispersed generation (DG) is constrained by technical issues related to electrical components rating and distribution system operation. In this context, the aim of the paper is to study the voltage profile of a LV feeder in order to assess the maximum value of the power that can be injected into multiple load points of the feeder by PV units without violating the voltage constraints. To perform this study an analytical method with integral approach is used: the distribution of generators and loads along the feeder is represented by means of continuous functions and constant current model. The main result of the proposed study is that, with reference to a set of contiguous generation units, it is possible to derive analytical relationships between the position of the point of maximum/minimum voltage on the feeder and the characteristics of the distributed generation (e.g. length of the concerned feeder portion, position of the generators and overall current injected by the generators). (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.