Overview of Issues Related to IEEE Std 1547-2018 Requirements Regarding Voltage and Reactive Power Control

This NREL report summarizes the reactive power and voltage control requirements in the revised Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standard 1547-2018 (IEEE Std 1547-2018). This overview provides the reader with introductory knowledge and information to support the utilization of these requirements.

Topics Covered

The report covers topics related to the utilization of voltage and reactive power control, such as:

• Overview of concepts
• Traditional regulation methods
• Voltage regulation with inverters
• Utilization of capabilities defined in IEEE Std 1547-2018.

Key Takeaways

As the amount of distributed energy, especially inverter-based PV systems, has increased, so too has the interest in using advanced inverter functions to increase the distributed energy resource hosting capacity on distribution feeders. Numerous studies and field demonstrations have shown that voltage regulation using advanced inverter capabilities can be effectively deployed in the field. However, many factors affect how well these voltage regulation techniques work in a specific location including line reactance and resistance, variations in feeder topology, configuration, and loading.

Key Considerations and Decisions for Stakeholders

• Decision to use distributed energy resource voltage regulation capabilities
• Determination of required distributed energy resource normal operating performance category
• Determination of whether the voltage regulation mode settings will be adjusted locally or remotely
• Determination of target power factor if constant power factor mode is enabled
• Specification of the setpoints (curves) used for utilized voltage regulation modes