Voltage impacts of distributed wind generation on rural distribution feeders

Abstract

Possible voltage issues are raised when considering interconnecting wind turbines to rural distribution feeders including short-term voltage fluctuations (including flicker) and long-term voltage variations. Detailed computer simulation of representative commercial wind turbine technologies on typical distribution feeders can provide insight into the impact wind generation could have on rural, distribution systems. Due to the relatively slow variation in power fluctuations of wind turbines, frequency-domain system models can be used to quantitatively characterize wind turbine impacts on system voltage. An existing case study is used a basis for an analysis, with results that can provide distribution engineers with a better understanding of how distributed wind generation can impact voltages on typical rural distribution feeders.