Investigation of Smart Inverter Integration within a Planned Load Shedding Management Framework: A Case Study of the Tunisian LV Power Distribution System

Over recent decades, renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy, have become increasingly viable. In response to Tunisia's growing energy deficit, this study explored the integration of Smart Inverters (SIs) within a planned Load-Shedding (LS) framework to manage consumption peaks in Low-Voltage (LV) distribution networks. SI control is based on the synchronverter, a control strategy of a grid-forming inverter that allows the inverter to act as a voltage source and emulate the virtual inertia of a Synchronous Generator (SynGen) through the DC-link capacitor. A control strategy was proposed, combining the synchronverter with an Energy Management System (EMS) that handled the voltage regulation. This innovative approach, leveraging day-ahead data to plan the next day's LS, dynamically manages Volt-Var activation and prioritizes customer connection or disconnection according to a predefined priority framework. This ensures the continuous supply to critical customers during islanding events and enhances the system's resilience under peak consumption conditions. Simulations conducted using MATLAB software proved the effectiveness of the proposed strategy, highlighting its ability to improve voltage stability, optimize load management, and increase the contribution of Photovoltaic (PV) systems in Tunisia’s LV networks. The results highlighted the potential of this integrated approach to support sustainable energy management, reduce energy deficit, and enhance the overall reliability of Tunisia's electricity grid under a planned LS.