Post on 05-Jun-2021
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Advanced Inverter Project (AIP)
Agenda
1. Project Overview2. Key Findings3. SRP’s Conclusion
AIP Results & Findings | Rotator Event | May 2019 2
Voltage CharacteristicsVo
ltage
126V
114V
Distance from Substation
• Project began in 2015 in partnership between EPRI and SRP • Enable customers to adopt DER while preserving grid
integrity • Assess integration opportunity & requirements
• Advanced inverter settings • Utility communications & control • Interconnection standards • Understand the role of Distribution Management System (DMS)
Study Overview & Objectives
AIP Project Description and Customer Participation
Component 1 – Autonomous “Set and Forget”• 400 advanced inverters • Deployed throughout SRP service territory
Component 2 – Limited/Seasonal Communication• 254 advanced inverters • Deployed throughout SRP service territory
Component 3 – Full Communication and Control• 121 advanced inverters • 1 Commercial PV system• Traditional voltage equipment
mini-DMS
New Equipment for Component 3
DMS
Line Capacitor Control
4g LTE modem
4g LTE modem
Communication box
Advance inverter
Capacitor Controller
Residential Installation
Component 3 Feeder - Quail 125
• Feeder extended to 8 miles• SRP Pinal Customer Center
- 180kW commercial site
• Encanterra ~100% solar• Communication
- SRP telecom network (fiber, FAN) - Verizon
9AIP Results & Findings | Rotator Event | May 2019
Component 3 Scenarios
AIP Results & Findings | Rotator Event | May 2019 8
• Recruit and install 750 new inverters• Install 380 communication systems • Challenging installations • Multiple home visits – customer inconvenience
Recruitments and Installations Challenges
© 2019 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.w w w . e p r i . c o m11
Advanced Inverters in Autonomous Mode
Advanced inverters followed settings accurately
Improved voltage control and increased hosting capacity on certain feeders
Greatest benefit from unique feeder and location specific settings
No observed impact on PV generation due to reactive power functions
© 2019 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.w w w . e p r i . c o m12
DMS Control Improved Voltage Management
Value of controlling advanced inverters increases as inverter size increases
LTCs and capacitor banks offer most value for controlling voltage today
ANSI A Range
Optimal voltage management observed from control of grid assets & large inverters
The DMS improved coordination and reduced customer voltage violations
Test Day: May 20th, Baseline Day: May 27th
© 2019 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.w w w . e p r i . c o m13
DMS Control Improved Voltage Management
Optimal voltage management observed from control of grid assets & large inverters
Value of controlling advanced inverters increases as inverter size increases
LTCs and capacitor banks offer most value for controlling voltage today
The DMS improved coordination and reduced customer voltage violations
ANSI A Range
Controlling commercial inverters and traditional assets
Test Day: May 20th, Baseline Day: May 27th
© 2019 Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. All rights reserved.w w w . e p r i . c o m14
Water-damaged monitoring box
Leading Practices & Industry Maturity
Advanced control architectures are needed to efficiently control hundreds of devices
Feeder model precision and reliable communications are key to DMS operation
Interoperability and reduced customization are needed
Effective customer engagement, system commissioning, training and lab testing
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Pinal Customer Center - Commercial PV Array
• Distribution hosting capacity provides time • DMS control of larger inverters & traditional voltage control
assets is optimal • Today: DMS control of residential PV provides minimal value • Our models and GIS (geographical information system) are
not prepared for a DMS
SRP’s Conclusions
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Pinal Customer Center - Commercial PV Array
• Update interconnection process and standards• Prepare foundational systems:
• System models• GIS
• Refine near-term voltage strategy• Establishing 2-way control• Substation & line capacitor coordination
• Pilot solar/storage on distribution system
SRP’s Path Forward