  Nowadays common practice in deploying photovoltaic distributed generations
(PVDGs) is customer-based installation in the distribution network. Increasing
level of PVDG applications and expedite approval by utilities have raised
concern about the negative impacts of PVDG installations on the distribution
network operations such as reverse power flows and undesirable voltage
fluctuations. One potential solutions is to optimize the siting and sizing of
these distributed renewable generation resources. This paper presents a
comparative study on both optimal and randomized installation of PVDGs with the
latter modeling real life customer-based renewable integration. The proposed
models examine and compare the impacts of PVDG installation on distribution
network operation. Numerical simulations have been performed on a local
distribution network model with realistic load profiles, GIS information, local
solar insolation, and feeder and voltage settings. It is found that when the
distribution system has a medium penetration ratio optimal PVDG installations
may introduce essential improvements in terms of voltage deviation and energy
loss reduction than randomized installation. However, if the penetration ratio
is very low or extremely high there will be not significant difference between
the two.
