An Optimization-Based Volt/Var Control Approach with Increased Penetration of Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) in the Bulk and Distribution Grid

The modern-day power system is very diverse and complex, especially due to new generating resources and load types added to the transmission and distribution systems. Some of the newer operational challenges include voltage profile management of the distribution grid, considering high IBR penetration on both bulk and distribution grids. This work introduces a new voltage management methodology for the electric distribution system with increased penetration of IBRs in the bulk and distribution grid. First, an integrated transmission and distribution system is modeled in a real-time simulation platform (OPAL-RT) to show how IBRs can adversely impact the distribution system’s voltage management. Then a volt-var optimization methodology is modeled with an interior point method for reactive power control that addresses the challenges identified in distribution voltage management. The results validated through real-time simulation show that the proposed method can improve the voltage profile significantly of the distribution grid when there is IBR intermittency.