2018 International Conference on Smart Grid and Clean Energy Technologies
Assessment on Various Allocations of Energy Storages Systems on Radial
Distribution Network for Maximum PV Systems Penetration
Jimmy Hee Chin Yong1, Jianhui Wong1, Yun Seng Lim1, and Jun Huat Tang2
1
Faculty of Engineering Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Selangor, Malaysia
2
TNB Research Sdn. Bhd, Selangor, Malaysia
e-mail: jimmyhee@1utar.my; wongjh@utar.edu.my; yslim@utar.edu.my; tangjunhuat@tnbr.com.my
Abstract—The intermittent nature of renewable energy sources,
voltage variation and voltage fluctuation can be noticed when
large amount of renewable energy (RE) sources are connected
on the distribution network, this is even worst during low load
condition. Energy storage system is a possible solution,
particularly on solving power quality issues caused by large
penetration of grid-connected renewable energy sources.
However, improper placement of the energy storage system
can lead to unsatisfactory mitigation of power quality issues. In
addition, poor sizing of the system can cause the energy storage
system to be very costly. In this study, a typical Malaysian
Medium Voltage (MV) distribution network is modeled using
Digsilent PowerFactory to perform an investigation on the
voltage impacts of various allocation of energy storage system
and photovoltaic systems along the distribution feeder. It is
noticed that the voltage impact is significant for high
penetration of PV system power output at the feeder end as
compared to the same capacity connected at feeder front. The
investigation also shows that energy storage systems connected
along the location on feeder end can regulate the feeder
voltages.
Keywords-coordination; digsilent powerfactory; energy
storage system; power quality
I. INTRODUCTION
Malaysia has committed to reduce its GHGs emission
intensity of GDP by 40% by year 2020 [1]. In order to
achieve this, the Malaysian government has taken various
measures such as promoting the utilisation of green energy,
provide tax exemptions and incentives to enhance green
growth in the country. However, the nature of renewable
energy (RE) sources are intermittent and as such, many
studies have been performed to investigate and assess the
technical impacts of RE integration to the network. Research
has shown that large amount of PV systems connected on the
distribution networks without proper coordination can causes
the power quality issues such as voltage rise, voltage
unbalance, reverse power flow, flicker and fluctuation [2],
[3].
Energy storage system has been proposed to store any
surplus power generated by the RE sources in the national
grid [4], and supply the energy whenever there are demand
in the national grid to mitigate power quality issues caused
by the imbalance in generation and demand. Research has
proven that the installation of ESS on the 11 kV UK
distribution network is capable to control the voltage at the
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point of common coupling by reducing the quantity of
energy exported from the feeder [5]. A planning framework
has been proposed to optimize the minimum storage capacity
at multiple locations in the 33 kV UK distribution network in
order to reduce the curtailment from renewable distribution
generation [6]. These two studies show the promising result
however the case studies are carried out at the 11 kV
network.
There are also case studies carry out at the low voltage
(LV) network. Many reseach projects have proposed to
utilise distributed energy storage to overcome the voltage
rise issues caused by high penetration of renewable energy
[7]-[9]. Nevertheless, there are also research projects
proposed to use fuzzy control algorithm in ESS to overcome
voltage unbalance factor caused by single-phase PV systems
on a small section of distribution network rated at 400 V
[10]-[12]. However, these models did not evaluate and study
the effectiveness of multiple ESS on a greater area of
distribution networks.
It is essential to develop an effective an innovative
coordination control for the operation multiple units of ESS
on real distribution network. However, assessment of the
available network has to be carried out before carry out any
control algorithm for the network. This paper presents and
discusses on the investigation of voltage impact of high PV
penetration along the feeder with various locations and the
impacts of energy storage system connected at various point
along the feeder to regulate the network voltage.
II. METHODOLOGY
A. Modelling of Malaysian Medium Voltage (MV)
Distribution Network
A simulation model of typical Malaysian Medium
Voltage (MV) distribution network as shown in Fig. 1 is
modelled with Digsilent Power Factory. The MV network
consists of one main intake substation namely, Pencawang
Masuk Utama (PMU) rated at 132/33 kV feeding to the main
distributed substation namely, Pencawang Pembahagian
Utama (PPU) rated at 33/11 kV.
The main distributed substation (PPU) is then further
distributes the electricity supply across 44 units of distributed
substation, namely Pencawang Elektrik (P/E) via five main
feeders, namely Feeder 1 to Feeder 5 respectively. The
voltage at the distributed substation (P/E) is stepped down
from 11 kV to 0.4 kV using on-load tap changer transformer
rated 0.75 MVA Fig. 2 shows the details of the main
distributed substation (PPU) where two transformer rated at
30 MVA, 33/ 11 kV are connected across a bus coupler
(CBS) to supply feeder 1 to feeder 5. Under normal
operation, the bus coupler is in normally open (N/O)
configuration.
Figure 1. Typical Malaysia medium voltage distribution network.
In case of contingency situation or maintenance is
required whereby one of the transformer is out of order, the
Figure 3. Main distributed substation network (PPU).
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bus coupler will be configured in normally close (N/C), so
that the downstream feeders are supplied by the active
transformer to ensure the supply reliability while maintaining
work can be carried out on the faulty transformer.
The details of each distributed substation is showed in
Fig. 3 where the intake is supplied to non-load tap changer
transformer rated at 11/0.4 kV. At this point of view, the
consumers load and photovoltaic systems are connected
across the network via the feeders.
Figure 2. Typical distributed substation (P/E).
 TABLE I. CABLE DATASHEET FOR THE CONNECTING CONDUCTORS
[13]
Conductor Specifications (3 cores)
Voltage Description Cross-
Level Mater- R X
(Underground sectional Insulator
ial (ohm/km) (ohm/km)
Cable) Area (mm2)
A11ABC240 Ald 240 PVCc 0.2110 0.1013
A11UG70PILC3C Cue 70 PILCb 0.5240 0.0938
A11UG185PILC3C Cue 185 PILCb 0.1950 0.0829
e
11kV A11UG300PILC3C Cu 300 PILCb 0.1200 0.0787
A11UG120XLPE3C Ald 120 XLPEa 0.2990 0.0873
A11UG150XLPE3C Ald 150 XLPEa 0.2645 0.1603
A11UG240XLPE3C Ald 240 XLPEa 0.1610 0.1524
33kV A33UG630XLPE1C Ald 630 XLPEa 0.0627 0.1070

Footnote: a XLPE: cross – linked polyethylene bPILC: paper insulated, lead

covered c PVC: PolyVinyl Chloride dAl: Aluminium eCu: Copper
Figure 4. Voltage drop along the feeder 1 to feeder 5 with constant load of
TABLE II. TRANSFORMER SPECIFICATION [14] 320 kVA, 0.97 pf lagging.

Distributed Three-phase Transformer

Description Voltage Rated Power Vector Short-Circuit
Level (kV) (MVA) Group impedance, UK (%)
T132T33M90 132/33 90 Yd1 13.04
T33T11M30 33/11 30 Dyn11 10.00
T11T0.4M0.75 11/0.4 0.75 Dyn11 4.57

B. Transmission Line and Transformer Parameters

The unit impedance of the connecting conductors is
being used in the simulation model is showed in Table 1 and
the transformer specifications in Table 2. The Specification
data are obtained from Tenaga Cable Industries [13] and
Malaysia Transformer Manufacturer (MTM) [14]
respectively.
III. CASE STUDY IN 3 PHASE VOLTAGE

A. Case Study 1: Simulation Model Verification Figure 5. Voltage drop along feeder 4 with various load factor.

The utility guidebook [15] is considered as the reference
standard to determine the voltage violations in the feeders. In
Malaysia, the low voltage distribution network shall comply
with a voltage regulation within +10% and -6% of 0.4 kV.
The analysis is carried out to investigate the voltage drop
across the feeders with respect to a constant loading. The
reliability of the electricity supply within a power system is
important, and therefore, the distribution system is designed
in such a way to consider redundancy.
In this case study, each of the distributed transformer is
assumed to be loaded with a 45% load factor with respect to
the transformer rated capacity, which is equivalent of 320
kVA. Fig. 4 plots the steady state voltage along the feeder
with respect to the feeder length across all five feeders that
are connected to the main intake substation. The result shows
that if the distributed substation is loaded with a 45% load
factor, the customers who are attached to the feeder end of
feeder 4 will experience severe voltage drop along the line as
the distance increased. Hence, a tap setting of 7.5% is
applied to feeder 4 to ensure the voltage at feeder end are
regulated within the statutory limit.
Further verification is conducted to evaluate the voltage
profile along feeder 4 with a variation of load factor. Feeder
4 consists of 11 units of distributed substations (P/E), with
each rated at 0.75 MVA. Fig. 5 shows the voltage regulation
at each substation with a load factor of 25%, 45%, 55% and
73% which is equivalent to 187.5 kVA, 337.5 kVA, 412.5
kVA and 547.5 kVA respectively. The result has shown that,
a load factor of less than 45% of the rated capacity is suitable
in the further studies. A tap setting of 7.5% can be applied to
improve the feeder end voltage for load factor more than
25% of the rated capacity of 750 kVA.
Case Study 2:Investigation of Voltage Profile with Respect
to Different Location and Penetration Level
The case study is carried out to investigate the
voltage impact on feeder 4 with the integration of PV
systems installed at various location as shown in Table
3. In this case study, assume a constant load of 320
kVA at 0.97 power factor lagging are loaded across all
substation along feeder 4, and the study is divided into
four extreme scenarios as follows:

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 x Scenario 1: No PV system is installed at any point of
the feeder.
x Scenario 2: PV systems with various penetration level
are installed at the first 6 substations of the feeder.
x Scenario 3: PV systems with various penetration level
are installed at the last 6 substations of the feeder.
x Scenario 4: PV systems with various penetration level
are installed at the every substations of the feeder.
PV power generation, the maximum allowable PV system
capacity connected on low-voltage feeder pillar is 90% [16]
of the transformer capacity, while maintaining the voltage
regulation within +6% and -10% [16]. From Fig. 6 shows
this result where voltage at the last substation has improved
by 1.23% if there is only 15% of PV penetration level.
However, if the PV system penetration level is increased up
to 90%, there will be better performance which the overall
feeder voltage will be improved 5.68%.

TABLE III. INST ALLATION LOCATION OF THE PV SYSTEM FOR

SCENARIO 1–4

Substation Substation PV Systems Connection Terminal:

Name Location Scenario
(KM)
1 2 3 4
PMU1 0.00
PPU2 14.00
P/E 94 15.60 • •
P/E 91 18.00 • •
P/E 42 20.10 • •
P/E 35 22.40 • •
P/E 37 25.60 No PV • •
installed
P/E 97 28.60 • • •
P/E 98 30.80 • •
P/E 96 32.90 • •
P/E 34 36.90 • •
P/E 71 39.30 • •
P/E 95 41.20 • • Figure 7. Voltage profile with different penetration level with respect to
the installation at feeder end.

Figure 6. Voltage profile with different penetration level with respect to Figure 8. Voltage profile with different penetration level with respect to
the installation at feeder front. the installation along the feeder.

The results for scenario 2 where PV systems with various
penetration level are installed at the first 6 substations of the
feeder namely, P/E 94, P/E 91, P/E 42, P/E 35, P/E 37 and
P/E 97 is showed in Fig. 6. The PV penetration levels are
varies from 0% (benchmark), 15%, 30%, 45%, 60%, 75%
and 90% with respect to the power rating of the transformer.
According to the utility handbook for grid interconnection of
The voltage profile for scenario 3, where different PV
systems penetration levels with respect to the installation
location at feeder end is showed in Fig. 7. The PV systems
are installed at the last 6 substations of the feeder which are
P/E 97, P/E 98, P/E 96, P/E 34, P/E 71 and P/E 95. From this
result, it can be seen that the PV penetration level at 15% has
improved by 4.26% of the overall voltage performance.

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Another positive result is when PV penetration level increase
to 90%, the voltage profile of has improved by 19.77%.
However, with the 90% of the PV penetration level, last 5
substations at the feeder 4 are experiencing the voltage rise
which is out of the statutory limit.
Fig. 8 shows the results for scenario 4 where PV systems
are installed at all the substations. It is noticed that the
voltage at the last substation experience a voltage increment
of 5.23% with 15% of penetration level while the last
substation experience an increment of 23.4% with 90% of
penetration level. However, from Figure 8, PV penetration
level with 90% will incur most of the substations experience
voltage rise which are out of statutory boundary. Hence, all
substations with 60% of PV penetrations is enough to
perform good voltage profile as the voltage is within the
statutory limit.
Figure 9. Energy storage system installed at the feeder end for maximum
PV system penetration.
Fig. 9 shows the voltage profile of each substation along
feeder 4 with respect to different placement location of the
PV systems. It has shown that photovoltaic system, as a
distributed generator is able to improve the voltage profile at
the distribution network. However, the placement of the
distributed generator makes a differences in terms on the
voltage when the allocation is different. From this result, it
can be seen that if the placement of photovoltaic system are
installed at the feeder front, the overall voltage is improved
by 5% while maintaining within the voltage limit. However,
in case the same capacity of PV systems are installed at the
feeder end, it can be seen that the overall voltage is increased
by 19%.
IV. CONCLUSION
The objective of this study has been to present not only a
case study of analyzing the effective allocation of energy
based storage system (ESS) on a modern distributed network
with integrated high photovoltaic (PV) penetration but also
maintaining the voltage within the voltage boundary which is
stated in the statutory limit. Case study 1 is verifying the
network capability in the meantime to find out the suitable
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loading range. Case study 2 is to investigate the voltage
profile with different PV installation points with respect to
different PV penetration level. The scenario installation of
PVs are categorized as first 6 substation of the feeder, last 6
substation of the feeder and along the feeder. This study is to
ensure the voltage profile is remained within the statutory
limit when the PV is installed at that particular point. As
voltage violation on the low voltage (LV) network are more
likely with feeder connected batteries or PV. From the data
comparison, installing the PV along the feeder cause all the
substation experience high voltage profile which is out of the
voltage boundary.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to thank Universiti Tunku Abdul
Rahman for providing the facilities and research fund to
carry out the research.
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