The hosting capacity of low-voltage (LV) networks is influenced by existing consumption and production in adjacent LV networks under the same medium-voltage (MV) network. Since LV transformers typically lack automatic on-load tap changers, both voltage and current limits require a joint assessment covering the MV network and all underlying LV networks. This paper introduces a methodology to include different MV operating conditions, like reserve operating paths, in the calculation of the hosting capacity for new production at LV networks. The MV voltage profile before the connection of new production, called the background voltage, is modelled to enable such analysis. The methodology is applied to an existing MV/LV network. The hosting capacity was lower, for the studied reserve operating paths, and the limitation was due to overvoltage issues. The proposed methodology is a valuable tool for distribution network planning. It was also shown that it is essential to use an accurate model of the background voltage for hosting capacity calculation of distribution networks.
Funder: Skellefteå Kraft;
Fulltext license: CC BY