Integration of renewable distributed generators into the distribution system: a review

• Published in: IET renewable power generation Vol. 10; no. 7; pp. 873 - 884
• Main Authors: Adefarati, T, Bansal, R.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Institution of Engineering and Technology 01.07.2016
• Subjects: DG resources; distributed power generation; distribution networks; distribution system; economic benefits; Economics; Electric power distribution; Electric power generation; electric power sector; electric power system planners; electric power systems; Electric utilities; electric utility infrastructures; environmental pollution optimisation; government policies; Invited Reviews; line‐loss reduction; load characteristics; local renewable resources; network configuration; Networks; Photovoltaic cells; photovoltaic system; Power generation; power generation application; power generation planning; power system management; power utility; PV system; reciprocating engines; reliability improvement; renewable distributed generators; renewable energy technology; Solar cells; transmission networks; power generation planning; distribution networks; renewable energy technology; economic benefits; power system management; reliability improvement; electric power system planners; distributed power generation; photovoltaic system; local renewable resources; DG resources; network configuration; electric utility infrastructures; line-loss reduction; renewable distributed generators; load characteristics; PV system; government policies; reciprocating engines; electric power sector; electric power systems; distribution system; transmission networks; power generation application; power utility; environmental pollution optimisation
• ISSN: 1752-1416; 1752-1424
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-rpg.2015.0378

Recent advances in renewable energy technologies and changes in the electric utility infrastructures have increased the interest of the power utilities in utilisation of distributed generation (DG) resources to generate electricity. The recent trends in the development and utilisation of DG resources for power generation application are subject to the deregulation of the electric power sector and technical constraints to extend distribution and transmission networks to some areas. The electric power system planners, regulators and the policy makers have derived many benefits from integration of DG units into the distribution networks. These benefits depend on the characteristics of DG units such as photovoltaic (PV), wind system and reciprocating engines, characteristics of the loads, local renewable resources and network configuration. This study comprehensively reviews various research works on the technical, environmental and economic benefits of renewable DG integration such as line-loss reduction, reliability improvement, economic benefits and environmental pollution optimisation. These benefits can be optimised if all the renewable DG units are optimally sized, located and configured. This study also reviews the current status of renewable DG technologies based on different characteristics and the operational issues of integration of renewable DG into the electric power systems.