Utilisation of back-to-back VSC in a distribution network with DG

One of the future trends in UK distribution network development is to increase distributed generation (DG) penetration. In this paper, the suitability of using power electronic controller to address issues caused by increasing DG penetration is analyzed from three aspects: voltage regulation, fault current restriction and network loss reduction. The back-to-back voltage source converter (B2B-VSC) is selected in this paper because of its multiple functionalities. Its capabilities to regulate voltage and restrict fault current are discussed and verified by simulations using data from a DNO. Its own power loss has been included in the evaluation of network loss reduction. It is found that the device has the capabilities to regulate the voltage issues caused by the increasing DG while keeping the fault current level below the permitted limit. However, the effect of the device on the network loss reduction depends on the load and DG conditions.