Solar
Utilities
Design and Installation
Utility Interconnection
Utility-Scale
Electrical Distribution
Utility-Scale Solar PV and Distribution Voltage Challenges - Self Study
About this course
The application of high penetrations of solar PV on utility distribution feeders can create challenges for the distribution organization to supply acceptable voltages on the feeder. As a result, the distribution organization may require voltage issue mitigation measures, including feeder infrastructure improvements, to be performed before additional solar PV capacity can be installed on a feeder. The solar PV developer usually has the responsibility to fund at least part of the improvements.
The following topics are covered in this beginning-level technical course:
- Overview of a utility distribution feeder and the utility’s responsibility to provide adequate voltage for all customers.
- Types of voltage issues that can be created by utility-scale solar PV
- Typical voltage mitigation measures that have been applied
- A brief description of smart inverters which are now being applied in some states/jurisdictions and have demonstrated a number of capabilities, including voltage regulation and voltage ride-through for system events
- Hosting Capacity Analysis, which a number of states are now requiring from utilities. Hosting Capacity Analysis gives an indication of the amount and location of solar PV that can be placed on feeders without violating specific operating constraints on the feeders, including acceptable voltage ranges and deviations.
Learning Objectives
- Learners will be able to explain the basic structure and components of utility distribution systems, including feeder circuits, voltage control equipment, and protection devices.
- Learners will be able to identify and describe common voltage challenges associated with integrating utility-scale solar PV into distribution systems, such as reverse power flow, voltage rise, and short-term variability.
- Learners will be able to discuss various mitigation measures for voltage issues, including smart inverter functionalities and their applications as defined in IEEE 1547.
- Learners will be able to interpret hosting capacity analysis results and explain their importance in determining suitable locations for solar PV integration on distribution feeders.
This course is included in this bundle
Course outline
3 modules
2 hours to complete
1:25 hours
of video lectures
Module 1 • 4 assignments
Utility-Scale Solar PV and Distribution Voltage Challenges
Module 1 • 4 assignments
Utility-Scale Solar PV and Distribution Voltage Challenges
- Welcome - Brittany Heller, HeatSpring (01:43 minutes)
- Presentation - Tim Taylor, Electrical Distribution Academy (01:03:28 hours)
- Optional - Download the slides for Tim's presentation (.pdf)
- Totally optional: iPhone App for taking this class (50 seconds)
Module 2 • 6 assignments
Optional Q&A Discussion
Module 2 • 6 assignments
Optional Q&A Discussion
- Can smart inverters solve for rapid voltage change mitigation? (04:40 minutes)
- Are there any sources / references of a grounding transformer basic considerations to properly define them? (02:11 minutes)
- Which 1547 advanced inverter functions are most useful for managing voltage and current on distribution circuits? (07:35 minutes)
- Do you recommend increasing neutral size in utilities with PV system? (01:57 minutes)
- Can regulators with more modern electronic control provide better control to avoid excessive single-step operation where there is a bandwidth issue? (02:12 minutes)
- What type of earthing system you can recommend for pv system setup? (01:17 minutes)
Author
Tim Taylor
Founder, 60 Hertz Learning
Tim is the founder of 60 Hertz Learning and has over 35 years of experience in generation, transmission, and distribution. He’s led and participated in many projects with North American utilities and has also worked in Europe and Latin American. In addition to papers, articles, and conference presentations, he has served as an instructor for electric power courses...
Frequently asked questions
Full FAQHow does this course work?
This is a free course. Enroll today and get access to all of the materials instantly. The lecture video and other materials are available any time. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.
How long do I have access to the materials?
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Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, when you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.
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