A General Analysis of the Distributed Generation Impact on Electrical Energy Planning

This study analyzes the perspective of the increasing participation of distributed generation (DG) in power systems, and its impact on electrical energy planning. To evaluate the effects of DG, this study presents the results of simulations involving a distribution network where some of the consumers, randomly chosen, are small producers of electrical energy, denominated prosumers. Some scenarios are analyzed, in which the prosumers adopt different levels of photovoltaic and/or wind DG, and in each one the annual reductions of the substation energy consumption and energy losses in lines and transformers are measured. Besides these benefits, the voltage violations in each scenario, caused by the DG, are also computed. The network model is based on the IEEE 8500-Node Test Feeder, and the simulations are performed using the open-source Open Distribution System Simulator (OpenDSS).