Effect of energy harvesting network reactive support on transmission system voltage performance

It is common to operate distributed generators (DGs) at fixed inductive power factors to overcome voltage rise constraints on distribution networks. This approach increases distribution system reactive power demand, which may strain transmission system reactive power resources at times of system-wide high DG output, particularly if such output displaces synchronous generators. If a number of adjacent DGs are connected to a transmission node in a clustered fashion via a dedicated energy harvesting network (EHN), it is possible to characterise their aggregated reactive power capability as a form of virtual power plant. Such a characterisation will be provided in this paper. The aggregated capability may readily be included in transmission system models. This work will explicitly compare the transmission system voltage-control performance of EHN reactive capability with that of traditional synchronous plant.