The visualisation below is generated from data collected from the PV systems of trial participants; each coloured bar represents the renewable energy output of a PV system. The PV systems are different sizes, so they are shown here as 0 – 100% output. Together they are representative of approximately 3.3 MW of PV currently connected to the Carnarvon network. The data has been combined with sky camera and meteorological data to show the variations in solar PV generation as clouds move across the town on a typical cloudy day. This visualisation shows one day compressed into a minute and highlights the number of cloud events and the depth of impact on the renewable energy generated in one day.
The visualisation below shows a hypothetical DER Management System performing Feed-in Management at peak solar generation time when electrical demand is low. A temporary percentage limit is applied equitably to all the Feed-in Manageable systems.
Feed-in Management can be used to limit the power that solar systems are exporting back to the grid to preserve network power quality or prevent the generators from being damaged. Homes or businesses with batteries can use this Feed-in Management time to charge their battery or increase their electrical load, such as a pool pump or hot water heating. Developing and testing Feed-in Management strategies were part of the Carnarvon DER trials.
Our project team worked with Reposit Power in Canberra to develop modes of operation for Virtual Power Plant management of Distributed Energy Resources in a microgrid setting. This was done to explore how we could use this technology to address some of the power quality issues created by very high levels of renewable energy generation.
Held over three years, these Distributed Energy Resource trials tested distributed energy systems through a variety of behind-the-meter energy systems tests, which aimed to better understand how to manage the variability of renewable energy and its impact on the network. The aim is that ultimately, we can find ways to increase PV system penetration throughout all of our remote networks.
Trial participants recruited through a competition held in the town received a Distributed Energy Resources system consisting of solar panels, a solar inverter, battery and battery inverter, Distributed Energy Resource control technology and a Wattwatchers device so they can monitor their system performance. Six other trial participants on the Gibson feeder received battery systems to augment their existing PV systems.
In return for the equipment, participants gave us access to their system for three years so that we could test:
- Distributed Energy Resource visibility and control
- How much of their renewable energy they use in their house
- How they could use the battery to manage their peak demand and save money on their electricity bill
- How we can communicate with their PV and battery system to achieve orchestration of these assets as part of network optimisation
Each of our participants' systems were fitted with monitor and control technology that allowed us to gather PV and battery performance data. We married this data with weather data, power station performance and network operation data.
This trial allowed us to create a database of information for power system analysis during the work of the trials. The data collected data will only be accessible to industry partners who are working closely with Horizon Power and have entered into strict confidentiality agreements to ensure customer privacy.
Analysis of the data collected from the participant's Distributed Energy Resource systems provided valuable insight into the way fluctuations in solar PV generation impact the network operation by clearly showing the interaction between the solar PV inverters and the network.
Our research partners from Murdoch University's School of Engineering and Information Technology analysed the data and developed recommendations for improving control strategies to better manage the PV and battery systems.
Data collected from participants' DDistributed Energy Resource systems will be carefully analysed to develop control algorithms and integration techniques that can be used to better manage Distributed Energy Resources on our networks.
Our funding partner was the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) through their Advancing Renewables Programme. Our research partners include Murdoch University, Solar Analytics, Wattwatchers, Energy Matters and Reposit Power.
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