A Comprehensive Solar PV Hosting Capacity in MV
and LV Radial Distribution Networks
Bryan B. Navarro
Electrical Engineering Department
Technological Institute of the Philippines
Quezon City, Philippines
bryanbnavarro@yahoo.com
Abstract—With the increasing adoption of solar PV generation
system, it is essential to analyze the impacts to the distribution
system especially if PV units is installed in both MV and LV
network. This paper develops a methodology that determines the
solar PV hosting capacity of a distribution network considering
the effect between the interactions of MV and LV network at
different voltage levels. A comprehensive approach was used
including complete LV network modeling characteristics. The
interaction between the MV and LV network offers an advantage
to other approaches described in the literature. A modified 25-
bus test system with complete MV and LV network model was
tested and an integrated MV-LV power flow solution was used to
analyze the impacts on its interactions. Peak and off-peak load
conditions of different customer types were also considered.
Aggregate installation was examined and it was shown that single
solar PV installation is sufficient for the hosting capacity
quantification. Also, LV network hosting capacity installations
have minimal effect on the MV network. Results show that the
main limitation of MV hosting capacity is the LV network
voltage problems.
Index Terms—Distribution network, hosting capacity, LV
network, MV network, solar PV generation system
I. INTRODUCTION
The presence of distributed generation (DG) has significant
effect on distribution network such as efficiency, reliability,
power flow, voltage profile, protection, and stability. It brings
challenges to traditional distribution network especially if the
DG is installed both in medium voltage (MV) and low voltage
(LV) distribution network. As distributed generation gains
popularity, utilities and distribution companies are frequently
asked by customers for interconnection of these systems [1].
Distributed generation plays a key role in residential,
commercial, and industrial customers on the power system. DG
provides an alternative supply of power. A rooftop solar
photovoltaic (PV) generation system is an example of DG that
can be connected to the utility’s service from its MV and LV
distribution network. When numerous solar PV generation
systems are installed, the impact could be detrimental to
maintaining normal system operation.
Taking into consideration these conditions, distribution
utilities investigate and analyze the impact of solar PV
installations and develop different strategies that will served as
a mandatory requirement to ensure safe and reliable integration
978-1-5386-1953-7/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE
Maricar M. Navarro
Industrial Engineering Department
Technological Institute of the Philippines
Quezon City, Philippines
maricar_misola@yahoo.com
of these facilities [2]-[5]. The common practice of most
distribution utilities is the determination of Hosting Capacity
(HC) and is defined as the maximum solar PV generation that
can be integrated in the distribution system without causing
any adverse effect on the normal system operation [3]-[4], [6]-
[10].
The methodology to quantify solar PV hosting capacity is
examined in the literature considering planning and
optimization strategies [11]-[20]. Operational perspectives
have been investigated considering smart technologies [21] and
pricing consideration [22]. Likewise, the optimal hosting
capacity of DG integration has been described with the
inclusion of electric vehicles (EV) and energy storage systems
(ESS) employing different methodologies and techniques [23]-
[27].
MV-LV hosting capacity interactions have been
investigated in the literature using real MV distribution
network. This was achieved by adopting a simplified integrated
MV-LV network analysis considering realistic generation and
demand profiles. LV network modeling have not been included
due to their number and lack of data and results show that LV
networks represent a major limitation to the MV hosting
capacity [28].
This paper aims to develop a methodology that determines
solar PV hosting capacity (HC) of a distribution network
considering the effect between the interactions of MV and LV
network at different voltage levels. This paper properly
modeled the LV network as a result of a comprehensive
approach. A modified backward/forward sweep power flow
solution was used to analyze the MV-LV interactions [29]. In
addition, the overall hosting capacity for MV and LV network
is quantified based on the results of performance criteria of the
distribution network.
II. METHODOLOGY
The comprehensive solar PV hosting capacity is composed
of two phases. First, the hosting capacity quantification in the
LV distribution network only. In this phase, all network
calculation is done only at LV neglecting the effect in the MV
by taking a source voltage or root node as 1.00 per unit.
Second, the hosting capacity quantification in the MV
distribution network including the results of LV distribution
network hosting capacity. Furthermore, the adopted
descriptions and definitions to quantify the hosting capacity is location of solar PV installations in the MV network
presented in this paper. considering the effect in LV network by applying an integrated
The LV distribution network described in this paper is all MV-LV power flow solution [29]. This time, the result of the
service transformers connected at MV distribution network. overall HCLV will be installed at all service transformers. For
The secondary side of the service transformer will served as the every situation, power flow was performed to determine the
root node while the residential or commercial customers will maximum MV solar PV penetration level (SPVMV-Max) for each
served as the lateral nodes. Similarly, in the MV distribution location without causing any violation in line loading and
network, the secondary side of the distribution substation will customer voltages on both MV and LV network. The minimum
served as the root node while the service transformers and MV value of all SPVMV-Max will be the hosting capacity (HCMV) for
customers will served as the lateral nodes. the MV distribution network. The methodology used for MV
The solar PV penetration level (SPVLV and SPVMV) is distribution network hosting capacity is summarized in Fig. 2.
defined here as the kW or MW capacity of solar PV generation
systems connected in the LV and MV customers. The hosting
capacity (HCLV and HCMV) is defined here as the maximum
solar PV penetration that can be connected in the LV and MV
network without causing any violation in line loading and
customer voltages both in the LV and MV network. These
violation limits will served as the performance criteria of this
paper. The summary of criteria and corresponding violation
limits is shown in Table I.

TABLE I. CRITERIA AND VIOLATION LIMITS FOR HOSTING CAPACITY

ANALYSIS

Category Criteria Violation Limit

Maximum line loading at
Line Loading ≥ 100% normal rating
LV and MV lines
LV and MV customer
Customer Voltages ≥ 1.05 per unit
overvoltages

A. LV Distribution Network Hosting Capacity (HCLV)

The methodology implemented in this paper to quantify the
LV distribution network hosting capacity (HCLV) used an
extensive search algorithm to determine all possible sizes and
location to examine the effects of solar PV installations in the
LV distribution network [4]. The LV solar PV penetration level
(SPVLV) at each location is evaluated through the performance
criteria specified in Table I. The methodology used for LV
distribution network hosting capacity is summarized in Fig. 1.
The search algorithm contains the installation of a single solar
PV generation system within a given range of possible sizes
and location in the LV distribution network. For every
situation, secondary power flow was performed to determine
the maximum LV solar PV penetration level (SPVLV-Max) for
each location without causing any violation in line loading and
customer voltages. The minimum value of SPVLV-Max for all
locations will be the hosting capacity (HCLV-ST) of a particular
service transformer. The process continues until all service
transformers were evaluated. Once all HCLV-ST of every service Fig. 1. Flowchart of the LV network hosting capacity
transformer was determine, the minimum value of HCLV-ST will
be the overall hosting capacity for the LV distribution network
(HCLV). III. TEST SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The comprehensive solar PV hosting capacity was tested
B. MV Distribution Network Hosting Capacity (HCMV)
using modified 25-bus radial distribution system [29]. The test
The methodology implemented to quantify the MV system has a complete MV and LV network modeling
distribution network hosting capacity (HCMV) used the same characteristics. It was modified by the inclusion of MV
approach as of that the LV hosting capacity. It uses an customers connected at different nodes on the system. The MV
extensive search algorithm to determine all possible sizes and network topology of the test system is shown in Fig. 3. An
example LV network topology of one of the service
transformers is shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 2. Flowchart of the MV network hosting capacity
The test system is short and lightly loaded and operates at a
nominal voltage of 34.5kV. It consists of 20 service
transformers connected line-to-neutral primary and 240V line-
to-line secondary that serves 414 residential and commercial
customers. There are 9 three-phase industrial MV customers
connected in wye-grounded configuration. The data of MV
customers are shown in the appendix.
Furthermore, voltage dependency of loads such as constant
PQ, constant I, and constant Z were considered in this paper.
Realistic demand profiles of every customer types (residential,
commercial, or industrial) were also considered. Maximum
solar PV generation capacity were assumed between 6:00am to
6:00pm. Peak and off-peak load conditions of every customer
types were also examined considering maximum generation
times. Peak and off-peak load conditions of combined
residential and commercial customers are Wednesday of
6:00pm and Sunday of 7:00am, respectively, while industrial
customers’ peak and off-peak load conditions are Wednesday
of 2:00pm and Sunday of 5:00pm, respectively.
Fig. 3. MV network topology of the test system
Fig. 4. Example LV network topology
IV. TEST RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The effectiveness of the proposed methodology described
in this paper is discussed in this section. The entire simulation
was coded in Matlab platform.
A. LV Network Hosting Capacity Only
The search algorithm involves the installation of solar PV
generation system within a given range of sizes and locations.
The SPVLV capacity is gradually increased from 0 to 30kW
(with an increment of 0.5kW) until a violation is identified
using a secondary power flow solution. The potential location
of SPVLV installations are all residential and commercial
customers within a given service transformer. For a given
number of customers (NC) and possible number of SPVLV sizes
(NS), a total of NC*NS secondary power flow were performed.
The process continues until all service transformers were
evaluated. Figure 5 shows the result of the hosting capacity for
all service transformers during peak and off-peak load
conditions.
 installation. In conclusion to that, it was safe to assume a single
installation for the entire hosting capacity analysis.

Fig. 5. LV network hosting capacity results (peak and off-peak conditions)

Based on Fig. 5, the minimum value of HCLV-ST for all

service transformers is 13.5kW (Service Transformer #19)
occur at off-peak load conditions. This also shows that off-peak
load conditions provide the worst-case scenario. This value
will served as the overall LV distribution network hosting
capacity (HCLV). No line loading violation was seen on this
analysis.
B. Aggregate Installation Analysis
For the purpose of this paper, internal simulation was
conducted to determine if aggregate installation of solar PV
generation system will not cause any violation in line loading
and customer voltages compared to that of single installation
with the same capacity. This was examined during the off-peak
load condition.
Aggregate installation of solar PV generation system is a
combinatorial problem. For simplicity, this paper investigates
two customers with different solar PV penetration level
(SPVLV-1 and SPVLV-2). The reference for the aggregate
installation is the hosting capacity per service transformer
(HCLV-ST). Table II shows the distribution of penetration level
of two customers for HCLV-ST.
Fig. 6. LV network maximum voltage comparison (off-peak condition)
C. MV Network Hosting Capacity Considering LV Network
Hosting Capacity Results
The results in the LV network hosting capacity will be the
reference for the MV network hosting capacity. To be more
conservative and with the assumption of extreme conditions,
the value of HCLV will be installed at all service transformers
(in this case, 13.5kW). The installation of 13.5kW is located in
customer where the HCLV-ST is obtained. The impact on the
installation of HCLV in all parts of the LV network is examined
through the results of MV network voltages applying an
integrated MV-LV power flow solution during peak and off-
peak load conditions. Figure 7 shows the comparison of MV
voltages with and without HCLV integration.

TABLE II. DISTRIBUTION OF HCLV FOR TWO CUSTOMERS IN AGGREGATE

INSTALLATION ANALYSIS

Scenario SPVLV-1 SPVLV-2

1 10% of HCLV-ST 90% of HCLV-ST
2 20% of HCLV-ST 80% of HCLV-ST

3 30% of HCLV-ST 70% of HCLV-ST

4 40% of HCLV-ST 60% of HCLV-ST

5 50% of HCLV-ST 50% of HCLV-ST

An extensive search algorithm is also apply in this analysis.

It was shown in Fig. 6 that maximum voltage was observed at
single solar PV installation compared to the aggregate Fig. 7. MV network voltage comparison
 Based on Fig. 7, the integration of HCLV in all service
transformers has a minimal effect on the MV network voltages.
It shows that the methodology described in this paper to
quantify the LV distribution network hosting capacity is
effective.
The search algorithm is also applied in this methodology.
The SPVMV capacity is gradually increased from 0 to 50MW
(with an increment of 500kW) until a violation is identified
using an integrated MV-LV power flow solution. The potential
location of SPVMV installations are all three-phase industrial
MV customers. The process continues until all MV customers
were evaluated. Figure 8 shows the results of voltages for both
MV and LV network during peak and off-peak load conditions.
No line loading violation was also seen on this analysis.
Fig. 8. MV and LV voltages
Based on Fig. 8, the HCMV is found to be 10MW that occur
at off-peak load condition. Results show that the LV network
voltages indicate a major limitation to the MV network hosting
capacity.
To summarize the results of this simulation, the MV and
LV network hosting capacity is 10MW and 13.5kW,
respectively. It means that the distribution system can
simultaneously integrate solar PV capacity of 10MW in any
parts of the MV network and 13.5kW per service transformer
in any parts of the LV network, single or aggregated, without
any deterioration on the normal system operation of the
distribution system.
V. CONCLUSIONS
This paper presents a comprehensive solar PV hosting
capacity methodology that can be used by distribution utilities
to quantify the amount of solar PV generation system that can
be integrated both in the MV and LV distribution network. An
extensive search algorithm is used to quantify the
comprehensive hosting capacity. To completely model and
analyze the LV network characteristics, an integrated MV-LV
power flow solution was adopted. The interaction between the
MV and LV network provides an advantage to other
approaches described in the literature. Peak and off-peak load
conditions of different customer types were also examined.
Aggregate installation was also analyzed and it was shown that
single solar PV installation is sufficient for the hosting capacity
quantification. Furthermore, LV network hosting capacity
installations have minimal effect on the MV network. Results
show that LV network voltages indicate a major limitation to
the MV network hosting capacity.
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