A dynamic voltage controller for LV grids based on flexible PV systems and the smart metering infrastructure

With the widespread use of Distributed Energy Resources (DER), Distribution System Operators (DSO) are faced with a challenge: the capacity of the grid to host the new sources is not always sufficient. The conventional answers to these challenges have been either to reinforce the grid, which can be costly, or to cancel the connection project altogether. In order to support the development of renewable energy, governments and energy regulators started to enforce an alternative solution: non-firm connections, that involve dynamic curtailment of the generators' output. Non-firm connections require a controller that may be local or centralised. When using centralised control or “Active network Management” (ANM), the grid operator needs to implement some kind of Distributed Energy Resources Management Systems (DERMS). Most existing DERMS solutions require dedicated hardware and telecommunications, as well as human supervision. While suitable for specific applications with large stakes, such costly solutions may be inadequate for mass deployment, especially at the low-voltage level. We propose an alternative “light DERMS” solution based on the smart metering infrastructure, that aims at massively scaling up LV non-firm connections at a low cost.