SMART GRID SYSTEM OPERATIONS

EPE-624

ASSIGNMENT # 1

Title: Distributed Generation in Smart Grids: Pros

and Cons for Efficient Electricity Distribution within
the Grid

Submitted to: Dr. Sobia Baig

Submitted by: Umer Ehsan

Roll no. : SP17-REE-011

Dated : 20th February 2017

DISTRIBUTED GENERATION IN SMART GRIDS:
PROS AND CONS FOR EFFICIENT ELECTRICITY
DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE GRID

PROS

Distributed Generation provides flexibility for Electricity Distribution. It

can be either connected directly to Utility network/load or through
power conversion equipment.
Through energy management, it can supply energy to load or utility
network depending upon the network demand.
Renewable energy sources which have complementary profiles can be
combined in modified forms of distributed generation in order to
ensure and improve the continuity of supply to load.
AC-DC dual bus architecture can be employed to meet the load
demand. DC bus can be used to supply the nearby area to improve
system efficiency to avoid DC-AC inverter losses.
Distributed generation can provide ancillary services such as voltage
and frequency control when run in grid connected mode thus
improving system performance and reliability.
Distributed generation uses advance inverters to connect with grid
network. These inverters provide the flexibility to control the flow of
active and reactive power to the load. And consequently result in
decreased losses by controlling flow of reactive power in system.
Distributed generation sources when connected through inverters do
not appreciably increase the short circuit capacity of system as
compared to distributed generation sources directly connected to
system.
Distributed generation along with storage technology can improve
system efficiency, local reliability, reduce energy losses and need for
grid expansion.
Distributed generation combined with Advanced Metering
Infrastructure and Demand Side Management can be used to meet the
load demand locally hence improving system efficiency.
CONS

Distributed Generation is unable to bear the load

variations/disturbances efficiently owing to the intermittent nature of
distributed generation sources.
System complexity increases when objectives such as voltage stability,
system steadiness and reliable supply to load are to ensured under
micro grid operation.
Improvement in micro grid structure, configuration parameters and
control strategy is required in order to reduce the impact of switching
on the load connected, due to faults on the main grid.
Classification of load is required with bottom of load pyramid showing
low power supply reliability and low power supply quality demanding
load.
Advanced energy management system is required which can do
decision making depending upon the energy demand, market
information and ensure optimal operation of system considering
distributed generation sources available and connected loads.
Complex coordinated control strategy is required because different
controllable micro sources having different voltage-current and power
frequency characteristics are connected to AC or DC bus to supply
load.
Slow variations (from minutes to hours) in the renewable power output
demand the need of reserve capacity to ensure power system stable
operation.
Incorporation of distributed generation will demand a revisit of
protection schemes, non-directional overcurrent protection in
particular, in order to incorporate the directional sensitivity. So that
tripping of faulty circuit can be caused and proper discrimination is
maintained.
The cost due to utilization effect which includes capacity costs,
reduced average utilization of thermal power plants and curtailed
Variable Renewable Energy VRE generation when power supply
exceeds demand can be higher for distributed generation. This may
render the energy supplied to load to be uneconomical.