Implementation and Experimental Tests of a Management System for MV/LV Distribution Grids

The continuous monitoring of network power flows and the remote control of Distributed Generators and Energy Storage Systems are the essential elements to allow a full exploitation of Renewable Energy Sources and their real integration in distribution networks. Thus in the paper a management system is presented for load flow monitoring in MV/LV distribution network. Moreover, on the basis of calculated power flows, the management system is able to send control commands to DGs and ESSs, to vary their power production or power factor or eventually to disconnect them in order to maintain the network stability. The proposed solution was really implemented in the MV network of Ustica Island, developing a dedicated Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition system. Different experimental tests were performed to verify the management system performances. To emulate the case of power flow inversion due to an increase of distributed generated power an on-field distributed generator emulator was assembled in a mobile station and it was connected to a generic point of the low voltage network.