Long-term performance in providing voltage support by PV and storage systems in distribution networks

Many distribution utilities are facing with the challenge to integrate increasing amounts of photovoltaic (PV) systems. Battery energy storage systems (BESSs) can be used for supporting producers and distribution system operators to give more flexibility to the network in terms of dispatching capability of PV, load shifting, peak shaving, ancillary services. This paper proposes to support locally voltage profiles by means of PV with co-located BESS in order to maximize, as much as possible, the active power production reducing the exchange of reactive power. If BESSs are not able to support voltage profiles, the modulation of the PV production is taken into account. Long-term analysis is performed on a real Italian test MV network taking into account the capability curves of power-electronic PV and BESS interfaces.