Assessment of backup generator connection barriers to Australian Medium Voltage Networks

Demand response (DR) programs can benefit electricity consumers, distribution network service providers (DNSPs), system operators and the energy market. However, the complexity and characteristics associated with loads connected to customer premises, utilisation of backup generators for DR and the baseline calculation process still require considerable research to optimise and further unlock the capabilities of DR programs. This paper analyses the barriers to using backup generators in medium voltage (MV) networks in DR programs. Two representative Australian MV networks (e.g., Urban-NSW1 network, Urban-VIC network) are analysed in DIgSILENT PowerFactory under different scenarios, such as variation in locations, power export limits, and dynamic export limits of backup generators. The study has found that a backup generator located at the end of the network can achieve better performance in supporting the network voltage. Moreover, the voltage limit and thermal limit of the power network mainly constrain the export limits of backup generators. Furthermore, a backup generator with a dynamic export limit can export 1 to 5 times more energy than the static export limit.