Distributed generation forecast as input to capacitor banks management in distribution networks

Reactive energy control has an important role in the electric system, once it is a tool which enables a more efficient management of the Distribution Network (DN). Nowadays, in Portugal, the balance between active and reactive energy is performed daily at REN EHV/HV substations fulfilling ERSE (Portuguese Regulator) rules. Failure to comply these rules implies financial penalties for the Portuguese DSO, EDP Distribuicão. Up to now, the capacitor banks management model used by Portuguese DSO was based on local historical demand at the HV/MV substations. This methodology is only valid for passive networks with no DG. This paper aims to check the feasibility of including DG forecasting into the proposed capacitor banks management model at networks with large concentration of DG. To validate this study, a comparison (considering actual generation patterns) between the results obtained by both the historical and the proposed model will be conducted.