Impact analysis of distributed PV and energy storage systems in unbalanced LV networks

The integration of distributed PV units in LV distribution networks with co-located energy storage systems (ESSs) allows increasing the amount of consumed local electrical energy while significantly raising the PV penetration. The installation of ESSs may in addition promote the self-consumption of energy and reduce the mismatch between the demand and the PV power generation making such power source dispatchable. A Monte Carlo simulation is performed by varying residential load profiles, sizes and locations of PV units and ESSs in order to assess the impact that a local and independent control of co-located PV units and ESSs have on the grid. Time series unbalanced power flow simulations are carried out considering different scenarios on a typical LV Italian distribution network. The results are evaluated in terms of benefits on voltage profiles pointing out a significantly reduction of voltage problems on the network at each penetration level.