Distributed Generation Impact Studies

While working for Senergy Econnect Australia, Dr. William Peter served as an engineer on the Embedded Generation Value Proposition project for the Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organisation (CSIRO). In this project, he helped perform a network modelling study of the potential impacts increased penetration of embedded generation (including solar PV, CHP, micro-wind, and diesel generation) could have on distribution networks. He identified technical and commercial drivers for the increased penetration of embedded generation at the distribution level in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM). The project included case studies of several 22kV distribution feeders that are located in existing residential, rural and commercial areas with the inclusion of projected developments in those areas. In order to quantify the additional value to the distribution network the study relied on both steady state and dynamic models, and included a variety of sensitivity analyses, and statistical analysis of the variability of renewable energy sources. The project examined the impact of variable generation on local capacity and network conditions, intentional islanding scenarios, forecasting and passive load/generation mechanisms. The final report was delivered November 2008.