Using Secondary VAr Controllers to Enhance Integrated Volt-VAr Optimization Benefits

Using Secondary VAr Controllers to Enhance Integrated Volt-VAr Optimization Benefits

Capacitor Banks

Energy efficiency

Load Tap Changer

Optimization

Reactive power

Secondary VAr Compensators

Software

Static VAr compensators

Substations

Volt-VAr Optimization

Voltage control

Grid modernization efforts are on the rise for many utilities in the US with major investments seen in the distribution networks where conventional visibility and control has been scarce. Primary drivers for such investments include the increasing energy efficiency of the grid and managing uncertainty seen with rapid adoption of EVs, and solar PV by end users. Integrated Volt-VAr Optimization (IVVO) has been used to achieve energy efficiency objectives in the past by few utilities. Newer technologies such as Secondary VAr Compensators (SVCs) are providing new and cheaper avenues for utilities to enhance the energy efficiency goals in addition to providing distributed visibility and control. Through a pilot project and field testing performed at Xcel Energy in Colorado, this paper quantifies the benefits of SVCs in coordination with IVVO assets in enhancing energy savings (3.3%) and demand reduction (4.2%). The LCoE for an SVC solution is much lower (0.5 - 1 cts/kWh) than conventional approaches for providing social and environmental benefits (reduction in CO2 emissions) in addition to achieving the grid modernization benefits of increasing resilience and reliability of the network.

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E. Gupta

C. Nickell

R. Moghe

H. Chun

D. Tholomier

2019 IEEE Canadian Conference of Electrical and Computer Engineering (CCECE)

2019

conferencePaper

2576-7046