Conservation Voltage Reduction (CVR) – Testing, Methods, and Results
With the emergence of Smart Grid technologies and eco-friendly initiatives, utilities are interested in more fully utilizing CVR strategies to reduce peak demand, energy delivered during high-cost periods, overall energy demand, and generation emissions (where applicable). Several of the DSTAR members have adopted CVR strategies either as pilot programs or as part of their long-term strategy. In most cases, DSTAR members are engaged in evaluating the effectiveness, benefits and tradeoffs of CVR implementation. It is expected that the methodologies used among DSTAR member utilities and the benefits gained will vary widely due to differences in feeder topology, connected equipment, load characteristics, voltage profile, and other factors. In addition, the effectiveness of CVR is impacted by how it is implemented and operated over of the year. As the popularity of CVR increases, it is desirable to develop guidelines to enable DSTAR members to evaluate the effectiveness of CVR and maximize the potential benefits.
To achieve the desired objectives, this project will rely on a combination of literature search, pilot CVR projects, DSTAR member CVR data and circuit simulations. Some of the questions that the three tasks will try to address are:
- How to develop guidelines to select feeders best suited for CVR implementation?
- How to identify loads or load mix that best respond best to CVR?
- How to evaluate CVR effectiveness (CVR factor) from data accounting for weather and other variables?
- What are the pros and cons of different CVR evaluation and operation modes? (hour/day/week on-off cycles, control groups, etc.)
- What is the impact of various Volt/VAr control strategies including CVVC and IVVC?
- How to quantify CVR benefits and tradeoffs in terms of losses, energy, peak load, revenue impact, emissions, etc.?
Tagged: P7-13, P13, Engineering Analysis Software, Engineering Guidelines, Industry Perspectives / White Papers, Operational Efficiency, System Reliability, Smart Grid and DA, DER Impact