Power Quality

Training Courses

Distributed Energy Sources and Power Quality,

Energy storage systems

LPQIVES is co-financed by:

LPQIVES is a programme of:

LPQI is part of:

www.lpqi.org
 Module 9

Distributed Energy Sources and Power Quality,

Energy storage systems

1 INTRODUCTION
The aim of this module is to provide the user a detailed overview of the distributed energy sources
in the context of power quality. Great majority of such energy sources are integrated with the grid
on different voltage levels. They may produce a lot of power quality related problems then. The
consequences, standards and methods which mitigate power quality problems are the essential
part of this module. High penetration levels of DER especially Renewable Energy Sources may
require energy storage systems. Such configurations require also power quality considerations and
are also the content of this module.

1.1 General aims

This module’s general aim is to provide the attendants the basic knowledge about DER definitions,
types and power quality phenomena which need to be solved. Methods to keep the power quality
parameters and reliability under control when interconnecting DER with the electrical system are
described. Energy storage techniques to balance the intermittence of RES and available solutions
are also described.
The aim is achieved through 7 didactic sections, as follows:
− Section 1: Definition of DER, RES and embedded generation (wind energy, photovoltaic and
fuel cells applications, etc.), available technologies and applications like base and emergency
supply, peak shaving, green power etc.;
− Section 2: Standards on Integration of DER with electric power system, national and
international (IEEE 1547, IEC 61400, Technical Guidelines);
− Section 3: DER & Power Quality - Regulations and Rules between Customers and Network
Operators; Economic Aspects;
− Section 4: Power Quality Causes and Problems: power electronics converters,
voltage control, harmonics and interharmonics;
- Section 5: Power Quality Measurement and Solutions: methods, active and passive filters as
an example solution;
− Section 6: Integration with the grid: methods, modules, impact on power quality and reliability;
voltage control, system restoration, fault level, technology requirements, grid solutions;
practical examples and experience;
− Section 7: Energy storage systems - balancing the load, power flows control;

1.2 Target groups

This module’s target group includes: DER investors and users, designers, experts, grid operators
and utility staff, and all those who wish to expand their knowledge in DER and especially DER
system integration PQ related issues.

www.lpqi.org
1
2 SPECIFIC AIMS AND TOPICS
The pathway of learning consists of a 2 days course, subdivided in sections (with different
duration), with these contents and related aims.

1st day
Contents Introduction to DER, standards and regulations by grid connection and use of
DER, rules between customer and network operator
Aims The aim of the first day lessons is to introduce the basic knowledge related to
DER and the key concept of standards and regulations,
2nd day
Contents DER & Power Quality measurement, problems and solutions,
energy storage systems.
Aims The second day lessons aim is to provide the attendants some practical
information and tools recognizing and identifying Power Quality problems by
using of DER and the choice of protecting measures. The last section of the
course will be dedicated to the possible solutions and explain something more
about energy storage systems

Below there’s a detailed overview of the course contents.

2.1 Pathway of learning flow chart

Time progression
(hours)

www.lpqi.org
2
3 COURSE DETAILED PROGRAM
General notes:
− each day there will be one Lunch break (90 mins) and on the second day also a coffee break
which will divide the lesson into parts no longer than 2 hours;
− at the beginning of the course the lecturer will explain the course aims;
− the course will be divided into theoretical and practical sections;
− at the end of the lessons, a user satisfaction survey will help the lecturer in monitoring the course
quality.

First day:

30 mins Participants registration and course introduction

60 mins Section 1: DER definitions

− Definition of DER, RES and embedded generation, available technologies
and applications like base and emergency supply, peak shaving, green power
etc
Modality: Lesson

30 mins Coffe break

90 mins Section 2: Standards on Integration of DER with electric power system, national
and international (IEEE 1547, IEC 61400, Technical Guidelines);
- IEEE 1547
- IEC 61400 (Wind generation)
- National Technical Guidelines (e.g. for Germany: VWEW,
Eigenerzeugungsanlagen am Mittelspannungsnetz. Richtlinie für Anschluss
und Parallelbetrieb von Eigenerzeugungsanlagen am Mittelspannungsnetz)
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Section 3: Regulations and Rules between Customers and Network Operators
− Salaries and costs
- Technical service and support
Modality: Lesson and discussion

Second day

120 mins Section 4: Power Quality Causes and Problems

− Power Electronic Converters (converters topology)
− Voltage control, harmonics and interharmonics, etc.
- Voltage dips and swells by poor dynamics properties of DG (fuel cell)
- Overvoltages and undervoltages

Modality: Lesson and discussion

60 mins Section 5: Power Quality Measurement and Solutions IP1547/D07

− Methods of Power Quality Measurement
− Power Quality Monitoring
− Power Quality solutions: active and passive filters, suitable transformer
connections
Modality: Lesson and discussion

30 mins Coffe break

www.lpqi.org
3
60 mins Section 6: Integration with the grid: methods: practical examples and experience
− Control aspects; power import / export modes
− Impact on power quality and reliability
− System restoration, fault level
− Technology requirements
− Grid solutions
Modality: Lesson and discussion

60 mins Section 7: Energy storage systems

− Load balance
− Control of power flow
Modality: Lesson

60 mins Final discussion; end of the course; user’s questionnaire; knowledge test;
Confirmations of attendance

4 TEACHING METHODS
Teaching methods are summarized in three main moments:
− knowledge transfer (Lesson)
topics exposure by the lecturer with the help of slides and eventually other electronic tools
(animations, data sheets, didactic movies…);
− deepening/learning verification (Discussion)
general discussion stimulated by the lecturer (also during the lesson) to verify knowledge
transfer and to eventually deepen particular topics;
− practical training (and eventually laboratory activities)
group work (~ 6 persons/group) for topics deepening, practical problems solution and case
studies overview under the supervision of the lecturer.

During all the sections, the lecturer will always attend, with teaching and/or activity coordination
duty.

5 DIDACTIC MATERIAL AND TOOLS

The didactic tools which will be used by the lecturers will be:
− Blackboard
− Video-projector
− Notebook
− Microphone

The lecture room will be suitable to allow the use of all the above listed didactic tools and to enable
group work for the addendants.

Each user will receive, during the registration, a folder containing:

− course program;
− lecture notes containing all or part of the lecture slides.

Some additional electronic tools will be available also in electronic format at: http://www.leonardo-
energy.org/drupal/ .

The folder will also include a user satisfaction questionnaire and a knowledge test (which will be
both filled and submitted at the end of the course).

www.lpqi.org
4
6 EXISTING KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
The user’s existing knowledge should include:

Level
Topic
Basic Medium High
Mathematical analysis •
Statistic •
Electrical circuits •
Power systems •
Power quality •

7 ACQUIRED COURSE KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

At the end of this course the user will have learned the basic aspects related to:
− DER definitions;
− Standards on Integration of DER with electric power system, national and international;
− DER and Power Quality: causes and problems, measurements and solutions;
− Integration with the grid;
− Energy storage systems.

www.lpqi.org
5