gridPULSE: Public User Library for Systems Evaluation to Accelerate Grid Modernization

The method for creating synthetic high-frequency solar simulations with unique profiles for each interconnection point on a distribution system feeder using low-frequency input data is presented, including recent improvements which have made it more accurate at matching measured irradiance statistics. These synthetic cloud fields can them be implemented into distribution grid simulations to model irradiance profiles for locations around the feeder. Without unique PV inputs at each interconnection point the number of voltage regulator tap change operations is significantly overestimated. In the final paper, we will present several implementations of the cloud fields into distribution grid simulations, showing the impact of using cloud fields in various scenarios such as different amounts of solar variability, different PV penetrations, and different clustering of PV installations.