scholarly journals The Technical Challenges Facing the Integration of Small-Scale and Large-scale PV Systems into the Grid: A Critical Review

Electronics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Alshahrani ◽  
Siddig Omer ◽  
Yuehong Su ◽  
Elamin Mohamed ◽  
Saleh Alotaibi
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Technical Challenges ◽  
Technical Solutions ◽  
The Impact

Decarbonisation, energy security and expanding energy access are the main driving forces behind the worldwide increasing attention in renewable energy. This paper focuses on the solar photovoltaic (PV) technology because, currently, it has the most attention in the energy sector due to the sharp drop in the solar PV system cost, which was one of the main barriers of PV large-scale deployment. Firstly, this paper extensively reviews the technical challenges, potential technical solutions and the research carried out in integrating high shares of small-scale PV systems into the distribution network of the grid in order to give a clearer picture of the impact since most of the PV systems installations were at small scales and connected into the distribution network. The paper reviews the localised technical challenges, grid stability challenges and technical solutions on integrating large-scale PV systems into the transmission network of the grid. In addition, the current practices for managing the variability of large-scale PV systems by the grid operators are discussed. Finally, this paper concludes by summarising the critical technical aspects facing the integration of the PV system depending on their size into the grid, in which it provides a strong point of reference and a useful framework for the researchers planning to exploit this field further on.

scholarly journals Interconnection Impact Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Systems with Distribution Networks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Michael Emmanuel
Keyword(s):  
Power Flow ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Electric Grid ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Distribution Feeder ◽  
The Impact

<p>As the solar PV technology continues to evolve as the most common distributed generation (DG) coupled with increasing interconnection requests, accurate modelling of the potential operational impacts of this game-changer is pivotal in order to maintain the reliability of the electric grid. The overall goal of this research is to conduct an interconnection impact analysis of solar PV systems at increasing penetration levels subject to the feeder constraints within the distribution network. This is carried out with a time series power flow analysis method to capture the time-varying nature of solar PV and load with their interactions with the distribution network device operations. Also, this thesis analyses multiple PV systems scenarios and a wide range of possible impacts to enable distribution system planners and operators understand and characterize grid operations with the integration of PV systems.  An evaluation of the operational and reliability performance of a grid-connected PV system based on IEC standards and industry guides is performed to detect design failures and avoid unnecessary delays to PV penetration. The performance analysis metrics in this research allow cross-comparison between PV systems operating under different climatic conditions. This thesis shows the significant impact of temperature on the overall performance of the PV system. This research conducts an interconnection study for spatially distributed single-phase grid-tied PV systems with a five minute-resolution load and solar irradiance data on a typical distribution feeder. Also, this research compares the performance of generator models, PQ and P |V |, for connecting PV-DG with the distribution feeder with their respective computational costs for a converged power flow solution.  More so, a method capable of computing the incremental capacity additions, measuring risks and upgrade deferral provided by PV systems deployments is investigated in this research. This thesis proposes surrogate metrics, energy exceeding normal rating and unserved energy, for evaluating system reliability and capacity usage which can be a very useful visualization tool for utilities. Also, sensitivity analysis is performed for optimal location of the PV system on the distribution network. This is important because optimal integration of PV systems is often near-optimal for network capacity relief issues as well.  This thesis models the impact of centralized PV variability on the electric grid using the wavelet variability model (WVM) which considers the key factors that affect PV variability such as PV footprint, density and cloud movement over the entire PV plant. The upscaling advantage from a single module and point irradiance sensor to geographic smoothing over the entire PV footprint in WVM is used to simulate effects of a utility-interactive PV system on the distribution feeder.  Further, the PV interconnection scenarios presented in this thesis have been modelled with different time scales ranging from seconds to hours in order to accurately capture and represent various impacts. The analysis and advancements presented in this thesis will help utilities and other stakeholders to develop realistic projections of PV systems impacts on the grid. Also, this research will assist in understanding and full characterization of PV integration with the grid to avoid unnecessary delays.</p>

scholarly journals Interconnection Impact Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Systems with Distribution Networks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Michael Emmanuel
Keyword(s):  
Power Flow ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Electric Grid ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Distribution Feeder ◽  
The Impact

<p>As the solar PV technology continues to evolve as the most common distributed generation (DG) coupled with increasing interconnection requests, accurate modelling of the potential operational impacts of this game-changer is pivotal in order to maintain the reliability of the electric grid. The overall goal of this research is to conduct an interconnection impact analysis of solar PV systems at increasing penetration levels subject to the feeder constraints within the distribution network. This is carried out with a time series power flow analysis method to capture the time-varying nature of solar PV and load with their interactions with the distribution network device operations. Also, this thesis analyses multiple PV systems scenarios and a wide range of possible impacts to enable distribution system planners and operators understand and characterize grid operations with the integration of PV systems.  An evaluation of the operational and reliability performance of a grid-connected PV system based on IEC standards and industry guides is performed to detect design failures and avoid unnecessary delays to PV penetration. The performance analysis metrics in this research allow cross-comparison between PV systems operating under different climatic conditions. This thesis shows the significant impact of temperature on the overall performance of the PV system. This research conducts an interconnection study for spatially distributed single-phase grid-tied PV systems with a five minute-resolution load and solar irradiance data on a typical distribution feeder. Also, this research compares the performance of generator models, PQ and P |V |, for connecting PV-DG with the distribution feeder with their respective computational costs for a converged power flow solution.  More so, a method capable of computing the incremental capacity additions, measuring risks and upgrade deferral provided by PV systems deployments is investigated in this research. This thesis proposes surrogate metrics, energy exceeding normal rating and unserved energy, for evaluating system reliability and capacity usage which can be a very useful visualization tool for utilities. Also, sensitivity analysis is performed for optimal location of the PV system on the distribution network. This is important because optimal integration of PV systems is often near-optimal for network capacity relief issues as well.  This thesis models the impact of centralized PV variability on the electric grid using the wavelet variability model (WVM) which considers the key factors that affect PV variability such as PV footprint, density and cloud movement over the entire PV plant. The upscaling advantage from a single module and point irradiance sensor to geographic smoothing over the entire PV footprint in WVM is used to simulate effects of a utility-interactive PV system on the distribution feeder.  Further, the PV interconnection scenarios presented in this thesis have been modelled with different time scales ranging from seconds to hours in order to accurately capture and represent various impacts. The analysis and advancements presented in this thesis will help utilities and other stakeholders to develop realistic projections of PV systems impacts on the grid. Also, this research will assist in understanding and full characterization of PV integration with the grid to avoid unnecessary delays.</p>

Impact of Storage Integrated Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Power System on Utility Peak Loads

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Agyenim-Boateng ◽  
R. F. Boehm
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Peak Load ◽  
Average Energy ◽  
Transient Behavior ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Photovoltaic System ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Grid Load ◽  
The Impact

The promise of large-scale use of renewables such as wind and solar for supplying electrical power is tempered by the sources’ transient behavior and the impact this would have on the operation of the grid. One way of addressing this is through the use of supplemental energy storage. While the technology for the latter has not been proven on a large scale or to be economical at the present time, some assessments of what magnitude is required can be made. In performing this work we have used NREL’s Solar Advisor Model (SAM 2010) with TMY3 solar data to estimate the photovoltaic system power generation. Climatic conditions close to load centers were chosen for the simulations. Then the PV output for varying sizes of arrays were examined and the impact of varying amounts of storage investigated. The storage was characterized by maximum limiting energy and power capacities based on annual hourly peak load, as well as its charging and discharging efficiencies. The simulations were performed using hourly time steps with energy withdrawn from, or input to, storage only after considering base generation and the PV system output in serving the grid load. In this work, we examined the load matching capability of solar PV generation (orientated for maximum summer output) for a sample Southwestern US utility grid load of 2008. Specifically we evaluated the daily and seasonal peak load shifting with employing varying storage capacities. The annual average energy penetration based on the usable solar PV output is also examined under these conditions and at different levels of system flexibility.

scholarly journals Investigating the Impact of Shading Effect on the Characteristics of a Large-Scale Grid-Connected PV Power Plant in Northwest China

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunlin Sun ◽  
Siming Chen ◽  
Liying Xie ◽  
Ruijiang Hong ◽  
Hui Shen
Keyword(s):  
Power Distribution ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Northwest China ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Shading Effect ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Large Scale Grid ◽  
Feasible Solutions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Scale Grid

Northwest China is an ideal region for large-scale grid-connected PV system installation due to its abundant solar radiation and vast areas. For grid-connected PV systems in this region, one of the key issues is how to reduce the shading effect as much as possible to maximize their power generation. In this paper, a shading simulation model for PV modules is established and its reliability is verified under the standard testing condition (STC) in laboratory. Based on the investigation result of a 20 MWp grid-connected PV plant in northwest China, the typical shading phenomena are classified and analyzed individually, such as power distribution buildings shading and wire poles shading, plants and birds droppings shading, and front-row PV arrays shading. A series of experiments is also conducted on-site to evaluate and compare the impacts of different typical shading forms. Finally, some feasible solutions are proposed to avoid or reduce the shading effect of PV system during operation in such region.

scholarly journals The electrical energy impact of small-scale onsite generation: A case study of a 75 kWp grid-tied PV system

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Russel Mhundwa ◽  
Michael Simon ◽  
Joel Nana Yongoua
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Energy Requirements ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Yield ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Total Load ◽  
Utility Grid ◽  
The Impact

This study presents an analysis of a 75 kWp grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) system with a grid tie limiter to provide energy requirements for an aquaculture centre in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. A data acquisition system, comprising power and energy consumption meters, was deployed to measure solar PV generation, demand for the facility, and energy drawn from the utility grid. Statistical analysis was conducted on the data to determine the impact of the solar PV plant in reducing demand from the utility grid throughout the day, and this was extrapolated into monthly and annual contributions by the PV system to meeting the energy requirements. Findings reveal that the annual energy yield for the system was 1 864.29 kWh/kWp. The solar contribution to the total load requirement on a 24 hour cycle was 28% (139.82 MWh) from July 2018 to June 2019. Summer and winter average contributions by the PV system were 62% and 57% respectively for the period of 05:30–18:30. The mean monthly solar fraction for operating the farm between sunrise and sunset was 0.44. Furthermore, a total of 141.07 tCO2 has been avoided due to the operation of the PV system.

Increasing the Productivity of Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Solar Energy ◽  
2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Torrey ◽  
James M. Kokernak
Keyword(s):  
Energy Production ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv System ◽  
System Productivity ◽  
Array Configuration ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Solar Pv System ◽  
Partial Shade ◽  
The Impact

State-sponsored incentives have played a significant role in driving the demand for residential and small commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems. All state incentive programs are tied to the power rating of the system, though some states also offer energy production incentives. Unfortunately, there is a disconnect between the power rating of a PV system and the energy that system produces over its lifetime. It is extremely important to consider system productivity, which goes well beyond the efficiency of the components. System productivity is tied directly to the structure of the array, not just the efficiency of the components and the quality of the installation. This paper examines the issues associated with improving solar PV system productivity. The focus is on comparing a series-parallel array configuration to a series-string array configuration and the impact on energy production. Partial shade is used to highlight substantial differences between the operation of the two array configurations.

scholarly journals Study Solar Energy Usage and Evaluation Activities around Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
ADDISU WORKU BEZABIH
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Impact Factors ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Standard Design ◽  
Mathematical Formulas ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Although solar energy is abundant, accessible, affordable, and ecologically and environmentally friendly, in rural Ethiopia, the majority of Households are still using pollutant kerosene for lighting. The researcher assess factors that influence dissemination activities, like solar PV installation practices, house and institutional system distribution strategies, system failures, and their causes. Additionally, The researcher analyzed the impact of PV orientation, comparing the simulation results currently performed by the PVsyst software with different angles observed during the sphere survey. This made it possible to influence the dissemination activity factors and, therefore, the best orientation. The study also assessed how access to alter, maintenance, lack of public awareness building, institutional problems, tariffs, and lack of a market could affect PV system access and large-scale distribution. To distribute a sufficient amount of solar PV across the country, this study recommends that consideration of distribution impact factors be considered in the most negligible levels to realize maximum results. The PV system could be a tilt at angles of 160 and 00 azimuths; supported by this method, the PV system can collect a mean of 5.36 kW/m2daily, which implies 1929.6 kW/m2/year. This was the vision that the researcher wish to possess a sustainable supply of energy within the country and reduce emissions from biomass.Thus, adapting standard design practices of mathematical formulas, experimental and PVsyst methods through numerical simulation is critical to identifying ways to enhance the efficiency and reliability of stand-alone PV power systems for further practicality within the region.

scholarly journals Lookup Tables for Power Generation Performance of Photovoltaic Systems Covering 40 Geographic Locations (Wilayats) in the Sultanate of Oman, with and without Solar Tracking, and General Perspectives about Solar Irradiation

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 13209
Author(s):  
Osama A. Marzouk
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Solar Irradiation ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Sultanate Of Oman ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Lookup Tables ◽  
The Impact

An energy modeler for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems may be limited to climatic data of certain major cities, not covering the one for which the PV system is intended. Additionally, a person not skilled in solar PV modeling may still desire a quick estimate of PV system electricity generation to help decide the level of investment in PV systems. This work addresses these points by establishing lookup tables to summarize predicted electricity generation, solar irradiation, and optimum orientation at various locations in the Sultanate of Oman. The results are produced by processing simulation data using the online open-access tool PVGIS (Photovoltaic Geographical Information System) of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC). The tables cover 40 out of the country’s 61 s-level administrative divisions (wilayats) and cover fixed and movable PV panels. The results show that the yearly electricity generation can change up to 11.86% due to the change of location. Two-axis PV tracking offers a small improvement (about 4% on average) over single-vertical-axis tracking but offers noticeable improvement (about 34% on average) over optimally oriented fixed PV panels. Monthly profiles of expected PV electricity generation, as well as the generation drop due to changing the PV mounting from free standing to building integrated, were examined for three locations. As general perspectives that may be of interest to global readers, this work provides quantitative evidence of the overall accuracy of the PVGIS-SARAH database through comparison with ground-measured global horizontal irradiation (GHI). In addition, a full example is presented considering 12 different countries in the northern and southern hemispheres that brings the attention of solar energy modelers to the level of errors they may encounter when the impact of longitude (thus, the exact location) is ignored for simplicity, while focus is given to the latitude.

An Alternative Approach to PV System Life Cycle Cost Analysis

Solar Energy ◽  
2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Larsen ◽  
Jennifer Szaro ◽  
William Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Life Cycle Costs ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
The Impact

This analysis uses actual installed system costs from available data to better assess and understand the real installed and life cycle costs for small-scale photovoltaic (PV) installations. Most PV systems are sold on the basis of first cost, but in addition to these first costs, system owners must consider operation and maintenance (O&M) costs and down time, as well as energy savings [1]. The challenge in developing realistic life cycle costs is that most databases have only new data available, and only one database — that maintained by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) — contains performance information along with cost and maintenance data. The goals of this effort are to: 1. Characterize the actual life cycle costs (LCC) of PV systems installed in Florida and tracked since 1998. 2. Develop a benchmark of PV LCC that will aid in prioritizing cost improvement steps and feed into the U.S. Department of Energy and its subcontractors’ efforts to develop a baseline for grid-connected small residential and larger commercial PV system costs. 3. Develop an easy to use and modify LCC model that allows sensitivity analysis and input of new data as it becomes available. The PV system LCC model developed and used here is based on statistical methods, which provide us with a range of expected outcomes. The Monte Carlo technique allows the use of repeated simulation iterations to mimic a population sample. For inputs, the model relies largely on data from FSEC’s performance and maintenance databases, and where appropriate simplifying assumptions are explained. Beyond establishing an LCC baseline, this project considers the sensitivity of the total LCC to various inputs and thereby provides guidance on the question of where to put valuable resources to substantially reduce PV system costs. Further discussion is offered concerning the additional value of this model in determining the impact of various methods of PV system performance tracking.

scholarly journals Analysis of Grid Connected Solar PV System with Distributed Per Phase Inverter with Buck Boost Control Driving Unbalanced Load

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 14-21
Author(s):  
Arshi Jahan ◽  
Mr. Rishabh Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
High Gain ◽  
Power Converter ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solar Pv ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Separate Control ◽  
Unbalanced Load ◽  
Solar Pv System ◽  
Boost Control

Small scale PV systems are mainly used in Distributed Generating systems (DG).The problem with PV DG system is for designing this system high voltage gain need to be required. In order to achieve this high gain we are choosing Grid connected PV system that is large scale Grid connected PV system In Grid connected PV system Power Electronic devices such as converters and inverters are main parts along with PV panels. In our work we have designed a solar PV system with varying irradiation in MATLAB/SIMULINK and enhance its output capacity before its integration with the grid. To design a suitable controller for per phase designed power converter such that it produces better output results than the traditional converter. The controller has to be designed along with buck boost control of DC output from the system instead of designing a whole new and separate control algorithm for inverter. It was concluded that active power output from the system from approximately 1MW in conventional inverter has improved to 12MW in the proposed scheme.

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