The role of hosting capacity study in power system advancements: a review

TL;DR

This review paper discusses the importance of hosting capacity in power systems, analyzing how increased renewable energy integration affects grid stability and highlighting recent research and future challenges in this area.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of hosting capacity assessment methods and recent advancements, emphasizing future issues for sustainable power system development.

Findings

Hosting capacity limits are crucial for integrating renewables safely.

Recent research has improved assessment methods for hosting capacity.

Future challenges include managing variability and ensuring reliability.

Abstract

The fast depletion of conventional energy sources due to increased energy demands and environmental concern has motivated power utilities to integrate more renewable energy sources into their power systems. Due to the intermittent nature and low or non-existent inertial response of these sources, a high penetration of RESs can lead to various issues in the operation of power systems such as oscillations in power system voltage and frequency, increased harmonic distortion, failure of protective equipment, overloading of transformers and feeders, and increased line losses. Such problems arise when the hosting capacity, defined as the maximum RES capacity that can be installed without having any technical and operational problems, of the network exceeds its limit due to the increased integration of RESs to the existing network. This paper reviews the progress made in HC assessment and enhancement of electrical networks research and development since its inception. Attempts are also made to highlight the current and future issues involved in HC technology for the development of an affordable, in-exhaustive, clean and reliable power supply for longer term benefits