Importance of detailed modeling of loads/PV systems connected to secondary of distribution transformers

Residential solar Photovoltaic (PV) installations are increasing at a very high pace in the United States. In 2017 there are approximately one million residential solar PV installations in the US. A significant share of these installations are downstream of distribution transformers and thus connected to the secondary. To precisely analyze voltage variations induced by PV systems into distribution systems, accurate models of load and PV systems connected to the secondary side of distribution transformers are required. In the work here we consider two secondary circuit modeling approaches, simple secondary and detailed secondary models. In simple secondary models all loads and all PV generators below a distribution transformer are modeled as an aggregate load and an aggregate PV generator. In the detailed secondary models all loads and PV systems below the distribution transformers are modeled individually and secondary conductors and service drops are also modeled. Using a cloud motion simulator it is observed that employing the simple secondary models can lead to inaccurate and conservative results. Moreover, the locations with the greatest voltage changes are different in the two modeling approaches. This paper highlights the importance of utilizing detailed secondary models over simple secondary models in analyzing PV generation.