Conservation Voltage Reduction with Distributed Energy Resource Management System, Grid-Edge, and Legacy Devices

Abstract

Distribution utilities use conservation voltage reduction (CVR) to obtain energy savings and lower peak demand by reducing bus voltages. Traditionally, the CVR is accomplished by controlling the legacy assets such as load tap changers, voltage regulators, and capacitor banks. The deployment of the advanced distribution management system (ADMS) and distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) enables the integration of distributed energy resources into the distribution networks and provide the grid services including CVR. This paper studies the coordinated operation of an ADMS and a DERMS in achieving CVR and voltage regulation. A commercial ADMS uses legacy devices and Edge-of-Network Grid Optimization (ENGO) devices to obtain energy savings through CVR. A prototype DERMS dispatches the photovoltaic smart inverters based on real-time optimal power low to ensure voltage regulation across the feeder. The results show that the coordinated operation of ADMS and DERMS is effective in achieving CVR and voltage regulation. Specifically, energy savings of up to 4.7% are observed in the real utility distribution system used in this study.