Feeder model validation and simulation for high-penetration photovoltaic deployment in the Arizona Public Service system

In an effort to better understand the impacts of high penetrations of photovoltaic (PV) generators on distribution systems, Arizona Public Service and its partners are implementing a multi-year project to develop the tools and knowledge base needed to safely and reliably integrate high penetrations of utility- and residential-scale PV. Building on the APS Community Power Project-Flagstaff Pilot, this project investigates the impact of PV on a representative feeder in northeast Flagstaff. To quantify and catalog the effects of the estimated 1.3 MW of PV that will be installed on the feeder (both smaller units at homes, as well as large, centrally located systems), high-speed weather and electrical data acquisition systems and digital “smart” meters were designed and installed to facilitate monitoring and to build and validate comprehensive, high-resolution models of the distribution system. These models are being developed to analyze the impacts of PV on distribution circuit-protection systems (including coordination and anti-islanding), predict voltage regulation and phase-balance issues, and develop volt/VAr control schemes. This paper expands upon a paper presented at the 2013 IEEE PVSC conference that described updated results from the data acquisition effort, newly developed graphical analysis tools, continued feeder modeling, utility-scale PV integration and performance, and continued model validation. This paper presents results from Phases 3 and 4 of the project. Specifically, the paper discusses feeder model evaluation and extended application for advanced scenario analysis, specifically feeder reconfiguration, smart-grid device interaction study, smart inverter grid, and support functionality.