7 Distributed Generators

Distributed generators can produce both real and reactive power.  Thus they can decrease reactive power by creating reactive power of opposite sign to that already present in the power lines since reactive power can be both positive or negative depending on loads.

Furthermore, then can decreases losses on the line from both the real and reactive current.   Without distributed generators, the losses on a transmission line can be calculated as

I²_line = I²_real + I²_reactive

P_loss = I²_lineR = (I²_real + I²_reactive)R

With a distributed generator

I²_line = (I_real – I^DG_real)²+ (I_reactive – I^DG_reactive)²

P_loss = I²_lineR = (I_real – I^DG_real)²R+ (I_reactive – I^DG_reactive)²R

(Berger, 14)

Works Cited
Berger, Iniewski, and Iniewski, Krzysztof. Smart Grid : Applications, Communications, and Security edited by Lars Torsten Berger & Krzysztof (Kris) Iniewski. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, 2012.