Upstream-Downstream Optimization of Volt-Var Control in Smart Grids

With the invention of smart inverters, customer-owned PV systems have the potential to support voltage and reactive power control. These inverters can inject reactive power into the network to reduce losses and ensure an adequate voltage profile for all the buses in the system. This work proposes an upstream-downstream optimization approach for volt-var control (VVC) integrating the action of traditional grid equipment and smart inverters. The proposed algorithm is based on dynamic programming concepts and is validated in a 136-bus test system. The results show that the proposed VVC can successfully reduce such voltage levels to suitable operating levels.