Coordination of electrical distribution grid voltage control - a fairness approach

In this paper, we present a method for distributing controller gains to assets offering local volt/var control. Gains are distributed based on a fairness principle, where all assets contribute equally to the voltage control, eliminating effects such as physical location. The method relays on a limited need for communication, and is inherently robust against connection loss, since only gains are updated. Through simulation examples it is shown that applying local volt/var control can reduce the amount of tap-changes with up to 84%, and updating local controller gains with the proposed algorithm can decrease the difference in reactive output between assets with 60%, while maintaining the same voltage levels. Thus the proposed control, provides significant economic benefit for distribution system operators.