GM 22 Tutorial: PV Hosting Capacity of Distribution Systems: From Accommodation to Integration using Customer and Grid-side Solutions (slides)

Distribution companies in many countries are finding it challenging to allow residential and commercial customers to continue to install photovoltaic (PV) systems due to the potential technical impacts resulting from high penetrations. To remove these barriers, speed up connection times, and reduce costs, distribution companies are being asked by regulators to increase the PV hosting capacity of their low and medium-voltage feeders. Adequately exploiting the capabilities of the customer and grid-side solutions will be key. This half-day tutorial will present and discuss different aspects required to assess the PV hosting capacity of distribution feeders. Furthermore, it will explain and demonstrate the benefits but also the potential challenges from exploiting the capabilities of the customer and grid-side solutions to move from an analysis that determines what can be accommodated by the grid to what can be integrated into the grid. Customer-side solutions include smart inverters (Volt-Watt, Volt-var, export limits) and storage systems. Real case studies from Australia, France, and the USA will be used to demonstrate the quantification of hosting capacity considering potential strategies to make the most of customer and grid-side solutions.