Sistemas de armazenagem de energia distribuídos para a redução dos impactos da inserção da geração renovável em redes de distribuição

Abstract

The increasing integration of photovoltaic distributed generation (PVDG) into power distribution networks, driven by technological advancements, growing energy demand, and – according to environmental policies and guidelines – the promotion of clean energy, has brought significant changes to the operation of electric power distribution systems (EPDS). Among the main technical challenges are reverse power flow, overvoltage issues, and compromised performance of protection devices, particularly in feeders originally designed for unidirectional power flow. In this context, this dissertation investigates the technical impact of high PVDG penetration in a medium-voltage EPDS. The study was conducted using a simulation model developed in the OpenDSS software environment, based on the IEEE 8500 test feeder. The adopted methodology is grounded in simulations that examine various penetration levels of photovoltaic generation (20%, 30%, 50%, and 55%) in different locations of the distribution system, both with and without the support of battery energy storage systems (BESS), which are employed as a mitigation strategy. Additionally, a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm was applied to strategically allocate BESS units at the most vulnerable nodes of the system. The results indicate that penetration levels between 30% and 50% lead to violations of voltage limits (1.05 pu) and thermal overloads, thus requiring corrective actions within the EPDS. In this regard, the integration of BESS proved effective in mitigating overvoltages, containing reverse power flows, and reducing technical losses, thereby contributing to an increase in the network’s hosting capacity by 37.5% compared to the initial value. These findings reinforce the technical feasibility of coordinated distributed energy storage as a supporting tool for the safe and efficient operation of EPDS with high penetration of intermittent renewable generation.