The proliferation of DER is creating grid management challenges at the distribution and transmission levels. Modern inverters have the potential to mitigate some of the problems by utilizing grid supportive functions. The primary objective of this panel session is to make the audience aware of the advanced grid-supportive functions that are emerging in PV and storage smart inverters. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Southern Company, National Grid, Central Hudson, and New York Power Authority are working together to demonstrate the capabilities of smart inverters in multiple PV projects in Georgia, Massachusetts, and New York and to study their impact on distribution feeders.
Tests performed by PG&E and SCE of some new California Rule 21-compliant inverters have identified several important issues. EPRI testing of the communication features of the inverters has found proprietary features that can inhibit interoperability, interference between multiple control interfaces, and a need for additional testing of communication and functional interoperability.
Real-world projects like these are critical to help build confidence in utility stakeholders and propagate the use of these distributed resources in the planning and operation of distribution and transmission systems.