Voltage Sensitivity Study of LV/MV Networks Under High Penetration of

Photovoltaic Generation Considering Residential and Industrial Load

Profiles
Maryam Hashemi Namin and Vassilios G. Agelidis

School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications

The University of New South Wales, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia

Abstract—Voltage rise in residential electricity distribution net-

works is expected to intensify when considering their traditional
layouts and the possibility of reverse power flow due to ever
increasing solar photovoltaic (PV) power injection. The paper
discusses the impact of high penetration of solar PV generation
on the voltage profile of low- and medium-voltage (LV and MV)
networks. The installed PV generation peak capacity is assumed
to be equal to the maximum load at each bus of a modified 13-
Bus IEEE network which is simulated in DIgSILENT to assess
its voltage performance. Complete grid data and the relevant
European grid codes are considered. A detailed three-phase
model for concentrated and distributed customer loads, various
overhead line configurations, MV/LV transformer, capacitors and
realistic line distances are used. The results of voltage sensitivity
assessment, presented in the paper, confirm that a PV penetration
strategy must be considered by distribution network operators
to deal with expected voltage profile changes as a result of high
PV penetration levels.
Index Terms—voltage rise, load, profile, reverse power flow,
electricity distribution network, photovoltaic generation.
I. INTRODUCTION
The ever increasing integration of PV generation in dis-
tribution networks requires the understanding of its impact
on network performance. It is clear that the lack of proper
and precise network studies under increased PV generation
requires urgent attention.
Reverse power flow may occur in some instances when the
PV power injected into the local feeder is higher than the
local load. These phenomena, considering the conventional
design of medium- and low-voltage (MV and LV) distribution
networks, limits the up taking of such generation due to
network performance requirements. In this case, the voltage
of network buses will fluctuate outside acceptable limits.
Based on the technical requirements of the distribution
network operation, excessive voltage rise must be avoided
and needs to be managed in both LV and MV networks. The
PV inverter is designed to operate within certain voltage and
frequency window and voltage rise detection will disconnect
the PV generation resulting in loss of green generation even
under sunny conditions.
Different grid codes specify inverter protection voltage
limits such as the EN 50160 standard [1] or VDE 0126-1-1
and IEC 61727 [2]. The main principles of PV interconnection
with the grid are extracted from IEEE 1547 standard [3]. The
operating limits of a typical PV inverter are depicted in Fig.1.
Fig. 1. Operating limits of a PV inverter as required by the grid codes: (a)
EN50160 (b) IEC61727
Numerous PV penetration studies have been reported in the
technical literature [4], [5], [6]. However, no accurate profile
of the PCC voltage due to reverse power flow was provided.
Specifically, in [5], [6] no realistic grid distances between
LV points were used and the results were obtained with
oversimplified load models. The real dynamic load models
were not simulated in a typical LV and MV network study
presented in [4].
To assess the extent of the voltage rise problem, it is
important that accurate simulation based modelling is per-
formed. Therefore, studying more realistic load and generation
scenarios with detailed load and network models is necessary.
Moreover, using actual PV and feeder characteristics to de-
termine the operating regime of the distribution network that
avoids voltage rise is required. Finally, it would be helpful to
define the term high PV penetration within a given distribution
network.
The objective of this paper is to report the performance
results of a simulated modified 13-Bus IEEE network under
high PV penetration. A more precise impact study of high
PV penetration in LV and MV grid is reported. In this
network, all loads are modelled and defined in three phases
and in unbalanced mode making the study more realistic.
The maximum amount of actual active three-phase loads is
calculated to determine the capacity of the installed PV at
each bus to emulate scenarios of high penetration of local PV
generation. A number of scenarios have been implemented
and analysed. Three different zones and three different load

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profiles are defined and applied to the special nodes of the
simulated modified 13-bus network.
Generalized load profiles, that are residential and industrial
load profiles, are applied to different load points and buses
in the simulated modified 13-Bus network. One of the most
important contributions of the studies reported in this paper
apart from its realistic model for grid configuration is its more
realistic characteristics for loads and the unbalance nature of
them.
The remainder of the paper is organised as follows. Section
II presents the methodology for the impact study with precise
network definition and data, defines assumptions and the
four separate case studies. In Section III the results of these
different case studies are given. In section IV the output data
are analysed and the conclusions are summarised in Section
V.
II. NETWORK SPECIFICATIONS AND
METHODOLOGY
Fig. 2. Modified 13-Bus IEEE network simulated in DIgSILENT.
The network studies are considered as steady-state since
the solar insolation varies slowly when compared to the grid
voltage dynamics. A modified 13-bus network that includes a
transformer with both MV and LV terminals of 4.16 kV and
0.48 kV respectively is utilised. The loads are assumed to be
unbalanced and other components such as cables, capacitors
etc. are also incorporated [7]. This three-phase model of
a modified 13-bus IEEE network has been modelled with
detailed data. The network is designed to operate with normal
operating conditions as required by the grid codes summarised
in Fig.1. The inverter under- and over-voltage limits are 0.85
pu and 1.1 pu respectively. Fig. 2 depicts the simulated
modified 13-bus IEEE network in DIgSILENT. The colour
circles indicate the location of the installed PV generation in
the network. Detailed inverter model with PV generation is
given in Fig. 3.
In this paper, the maximum PV generation capacity is
assumed to be defined as the amount of installed PV capacity
at each end user node and is determined by the maximum
amount of actual three-phase load connected to that point. Fig. 3. Inverter based PV model simulated in DIgSILENT.
The simulated network has the ability to do 24-hour study
and different scenarios can be explored. The advanced inverter
based PV system model along with the unbalanced three- behaviour and loads are considered and at this stage no
phase model of the network provide a suitable platform to standard can regulate the residential load behaviour. In other
perform accurate voltage profile assessment as a result of words, their behaviour depends on many parameters which
high PV generation penetration within the network. The main make it impossible to create a global generic model for loads.
advantage of the modelled network is the ability to study The case studies have been defined to assess the impact
both MV and LV levels of the network. Finally, it should of relatively simple changes in load and insolation level, to
be noted that considering detailed three-phase models for more detailed situations that use real load profiles for such
network components such as customer loads, various overhead assessment. The studies considered two different types of load
line configurations, realistically represented line segments dis- profiles, namely, residential and industrial. In summary, the
tances, MV/LV transformer and capacitor, concentrated and following four case studies have been performed:
distributed loads provide a more powerful environment for the
studies with results closely emulating the real cases. • Case A:Constant load
Customer loads are unbalanced within the three-phases and • Case B:Simplified load profile in 3 network zones
can vary with various unaccounted parameters as the loads • Case C:Real case industrial load profile
are considered chaotic. No definite control on each consumers • Case D:Real case residential load profile.

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 TABLE I
N ETWORK DATA
III. RESULTS
A. Constant Load-Voltage profile study
The network is sectionalised into three different zones. Each
zones has a different load profile. Voltage sensitivity study is
then performed for each of these zones. The voltage profile of
the 13 nodes in the simulated 13-bus network is depicted in
Fig. 4. In this case no PV generation is considered for any of
the network nodes. It can be seen from Fig. 4 that all network
nodes are operating within normal range (i.e between 0.85 pu
to 1.1 [1],[2].) while the load is assumed being the maximum
amount and constant. By way of comparison, the voltage
profile given in Fig. 5, when PV generation is connected to
the network. Most of the 13-bus nodes experience voltage rise
to the values that are more than 1.1 pu.
B. Simplified load profile in three different network zones-
voltage profile study
In this case considering the actual nature of load profile,
especially in LV and MV distribution system, simplified and
general changes have been considered for loads while the PV
generation is assumed to be constant. Table I gives the voltage
levels of load points for different loads during one day, for
two conditions; with and without PV generation. Three outputs
obtained by DIGSILENT are depicted in Figs. 6-8. Each figure
shows the voltage trend due to five different load changes. The
five different step changes in the load of each customer are
simulated as 100%, 75%, 50% and 10% of the peak amount
of load in each bus. Once again, the 13-Bus network has been
sectionalised into three different zones A, B and C which have
similar general behaviour.
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Fig. 4. Voltage profile of the modified 13-Bus network without PV
penetration in DIgSILENT.
Fig. 5. Voltage profile of modified 13-Bus with high PV penetration in
DIgSILENT.
The most important point in each of these plots is that the
voltage rise happens after the power flows reversely in the
network and the current at the head bus starts to be injected
in opposite direction into the higher voltage network. Table
II depicts that before and after, PV units come into service,
massive changes in bus voltages occur.
C. Real case industrial load profile-voltage profile study
In the last two case studies in order to take a more accurate
step the real Australian industrial and residential load profiles
of NSW region, a typical summer day of January is considered
as an input load profile of each node spot in separate cases.
Figs. 9 and 10 depict these real load profiles respectively which
are utilized from real field work studies [7],[8]. The general
trend of load changes are applied to the maximum load level
in percentages of the load peak values. table III. has classified
these two load profiles in percentages, separately. These load
profiles are simulated one by one in DIgSILENT. Scales and
are applied to the modified 13-Bus network each considered
as typical residential and industrial loads. In case study 3,
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 TABLE II
L OAD VOLTAGE DATA FOR MODIFIED 13-B US WITH HIGH PV
PENETRATION IN DI G SILENT.
Fig. 6. Voltage trend in Zone A- due to load changing profile
the industrial load profile is applied to the system, aiming to
monitor the voltage performance, with and without PV units in
service. Fig. 11 shows the output of the industrial load profile
in DIgSILENT.
In this stage of study, in order to do more accurate data
analysis, the most sensitive point of network is selected which
is extracted trough sensitivity study and is node number 652.
The industrial load profile is applied to this node and the output
voltage of node number 652 is also extracted, monitored and
depicted in Fig. 12 as the key result of simulated 13-Bus IEEE
network under unbalanced load flow of unbalanced load.
D. Real case residential load profile-voltage profile study
As presented for an industrial load previously, real measured
residential load profile is applied to modified 13-Bus network.
The simulated load profile is depicted in Fig. 13 and the PCC
voltage for bus number 634, which is in the most sensitive
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Fig. 7. Voltage trend in Zone B- due to load changing profile
Fig. 8. Voltage trend in Zone C- due to load changing profile
situations, is also monitored and depicted in Fig. 14. The PCC
voltage of node 634 can be compared before and after PV units
come in to service. It is visible that voltage rise happens, after
PV penetration.
Considering the nature of PV generation which is dependent
on the sun and due to network analysis and assumptions, the
PV generation period is considered from 6 am to 5 pm. This
paper is concentrated in this time period and for the constant
value of PV generation which is equal to the maximum power
of each load spot. Concentrating on Fig. 12 it can be realized
that after PV unit come into service the voltage of point 652
in the modified 13-Bus, increases dramatically from 1.07 pu
to more than 1.1 pu. This shows that voltage rise happens at
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 TABLE III
I NDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL LOAD DATA IN PERCENTAGE

Fig. 9. Australian industrial actual load in January [7]

Fig. 10. Australian residential actual load in January [8]

PCC in point 652 due to high presence of PV generation.

IV. DISCUSSION
As depicted through Figs. 6-8, the total load in the modified
13-Bus IEEE network is changing from +3.053 MW which
is extracted from the upper grid to - 9.947 MW which is
injected oppositely into the upper grid and causes voltage rise.
Although the network is allowed to operate under extreme
conditions, corrective action is necessary to be taken under
consideration in planning and operation. In other words, if
voltage is detected to be beyond the normal condition in a
certain point of the feeder and detected as extreme condition,
the installed inverters at each PV unit must get switched
off. In this way the whole green power of PV would be

Fig. 12. Voltage at point 652, before and after PV penetration with residential
load profile.

Fig. 11. Industrial simulated load profile upon a real case study.

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 R EFERENCES
[1] D. Start, “A review of the new cenelec standard en 50160,” in IEE
Colloquium on Issues in Power Quality,, Nov. 1995, pp. 4/1–4/7.
[2] S. Vlachopoulos and C. Demoulias, “Voltage regulation in low-voltage
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[3] “Ieee application guide for ieee std 1547, ieee standard for interconnecting
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[4] R. Yan and T. Saha, “Investigation of voltage stability for residential
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[5] R. Tonkoski, L. Lopes, and T. El-Fouly, “Coordinated active power
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[6] R. Tonkoski, D. Turcotte, and T. El-Fouly, “Impact of high pv penetration
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[8] A. Masoum, P. Moses, M. Masoum, and A. Abu-Siada, “Impact of rooftop
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Fig. 14. Voltage at point 634, before and after PV penetration with
Residential load profile.

disconnected from network due to unbalanced grid voltage

profile. As a matter of fact is the utilitys responsibility to take
a corrective action. Respectively, if the voltage is beyond the
extreme threshold, then the corrective action should be taken
as a matter of urgency. In case of known maximum operation
ratings for grid, this study can help planning engineers to
be realize how to deal with highly variable loads and how
to determine the feeders minimum load level during the day.
Therefore the maximum PV capacity that could be installed
in the feeder without having over voltages can be determined.

V. CONCLUSION

The paper has discussed the impact of high penetration

of PV into the LV and MV distribution grid voltage profile.
The impact has been assessed through a simulated modified
13-Bus IEEE standard network in DIgSILENT. The precise
and inverter based model for PV and three-phase unbalanced
model for loads, overhead lines, transformer and capacitor
along with unbalanced load flow calculation has resulted in
a more realistic assessment for voltage rise. The presented
detailed study model has the ability to simulate 24 hour of
sun insolation profile which makes further studies, possible.

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