Increasing Distribution System PV Hosting Capacity Using Network-Based Optimization Techniques

The increasing adoption of solar PV systems in distribution system requires constant system modification and reinforcement to increase hosting capacity. Network-based optimization models like network reconfiguration and phase load balancing was used mainly for loss minimization and voltage improvement. The idea of reducing feeder loading and balancing phase load makes the same model useful in hosting capacity improvement. This paper proposes a network-based optimization technique to increase solar PV hosting capacity of a distribution system. With the use of Genetic Algorithm (GA) as an optimization tool for network-based optimization model, the method was able to increase the hosting capacity by 28.26%. Results show that initial and optimized configuration limits the hosting capacity due to voltage rise and line loading problems, respectively.