Sensitivity-based dispatch of DG for voltage control

The paper presents a methodology for managing a network´s voltage profile by dispatching grid-connected distributed generation (DG). The coordinated voltage control algorithm has two main stages for controlling network voltages. Firstly, it avails of any available network reactive power assets and reactive power available from DG which is dispatched to coincide with network needs. If insufficent reactive power is available from the DG units their active power may be curtailed to free up reactive power to ensure voltages are within the desired range. The paper demonstrates that the sensitivity based approach can maintain voltages within the desired range and has the potential to reduce network losses, increase network capacity to accommodate DG and to reduce the distribution network´s dependence on the transmission network for reactive power.