An Open Source Tool for Automating Steady-State Distribution Interconnection Studies

To meet growing load demand, new generators must be interconnected to the grid. As interconnection requests increase, grid planners spend significant time and effort conducting system impact studies. This has resulted in substantial backlogs, with many projects stalled in the interconnection queue. To address this challenge, we developed an automated tool for steady-state interconnection studies using Python and OpenDSS. The tool allows users to specify a distributed generator, connect it to a grid model, and perform snapshot power flow analysis to evaluate thermal loading and voltage magnitudes. It then identifies and implements solutions to any violations caused by the new interconnection. The tool is also well-suited for microgrids, as it can evaluate both grid-connected and islanded modes. We successfully applied it to a real U.S. distribution feeder, automatically analyzing the interconnection of a solar photovoltaic and battery system and resolving all thermal and voltage violations.