Enabling High Penetrations of Distributed Solar through the Optimization of Sub-Transmission Voltage Regulation

Sub-transmission and distribution power grid systems were not originally designed for bi-directional power flow or to accommodate power generated from distributed energy resources (DERs). These constraints make it difficult to cost-effectively integrate DERs such as distributed solar into the power grid.

A new tool currently under development by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is designed to help planners and grid operators integrate greater penetrations of distributed solar. The tool, a Coordinated Real-time Sub-Transmission Volt-Var Control Tool (CReST-VCT), is being built based on algorithms that can coordinate the control logic of the existing grid’s reactive power compensation devices from the sub-transmission system to the distribution system, along with required volt-ampere reactive support from distributed solar. CReST-VCT is being developed in partnership with North Carolina State University, the University of Texas, GE Global Research, One-Cycle Control, and Duke Energy and is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Solar Energy Technologies Office.

In this webinar, Nader Samaan, a power systems engineer and the lead for PNNL’s Grid Analytics team, presented CReST-VCT and how it works in a real-world use case for Duke Energy.

Presenter: Nader Samaan, Staff Power Systems Research Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Host: Nate Hausman, Project Director, CESA

This webinar was presented by CESA as part of CESA’s Multistate Initiative to Develop Solar in Locations that Provide Benefits to the Grid.