This chapter discusses basics of technical design specifications, criteria, technical terms and equipment parameters required to connect solar power plants to electricity networks. Depending on its capacity, a solar plant can be connected to LV, MV, or HV networks. Successful connection of a medium-scale solar plant should satisfy requirements of both the Solar Energy Grid Connection Code (SEGCC) and the appropriate code: the Electricity Distribution Code (EDC) or the Grid Code (GC) as the connection level apply. Connection of a large-scale solar plant to the transmission network should satisfy the requirements of both SEGCC and GC. For Small-Scale Photovoltaic (SSPV), the connection should satisfy both the SSPV Connection Code and the EDC. The objectives are to establish the obligations and responsibilities of each party; i.e. operators and all network users, thus leading to improved security, higher reliability and maintaining optimal operation. The technical specifications include permitted voltage and frequency variations in addition to power quality limits of harmonic distortion, phase unbalance, and flickers. Operational limits and capability requirements will be explained and discussed. Solar power grid connection codes of Egypt are explored first. Finally, brief comparisons of PV codes and related codes of UK, Germany, USA, and Egypt are presented.
Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is one of the potential solutions to increase energy system flexibility, as BESS is well suited to solve many challenges in transmission and distribution networks. Examples of distribution network's challenges, which affect network performance, are: (i) Load disconnection or technical constraints violation, which may happen during reconfiguration after fault, (ii) Unpredictable power generation change due to Photovoltaic (PV) penetration, (iii) Undesirable PV reverse power, and (iv) Low Load Factor (LF) which may affect electricity price. In this paper, the BESS is used to support distribution networks in reconfiguration after a fault, increasing Photovoltaic (PV) penetration, cutting peak load, and loading valley filling. The paper presents a methodology for BESS optimal locations and sizing considering technical constraints during reconfiguration after a fault and PV power generation changes. For determining the maximum power generation change due to PV, actual power registration of connected PV plants in South Cairo Electricity Distribution Company (SCEDC) was considered for a year. In addition, the paper provides a procedure for distribution network operator to employ the proposed BESS to perform multi functions such as: the ability to absorb PV power surplus, cut peak load and fill load valley for improving network's performances. The methodology is applied to a modified IEEE 37-node and a real network part consisting of 158 nodes in SCEDC zone. The simulation studies are performed using the DIgSILENT PowerFactory software and DPL programming language. The Mixed Integer Linear Programming optimization technique (MILP) in MATLAB is employed to choose the best locations and sizing of BESS.
Smart grids with self-healing (SH) capability provide an important intelligent feature to help in fast correction actions in case of network faults. SH architecture consists of modern communication systems, smart equipment, and intelligent sensors. With the high cost of SH components (especially smart ring main unit (SRMU)), optimization is required to achieve optimum performance with minimum cost. This study presents a proposed methodology to determine the optimum number and locations of SRMUs in electricity distribution networks considering various cost issues. The disconnection cost of on-grid photovoltaic (PV) plants is taken into consideration as an important factor in determining the locations of the SRMUs. The nonlinear programming (NLP) optimization technique is used to determine the required number of SRMUs, considering the cost/benefit analysis (cost of upgrading MRMUs to SRMUs/benefit due to interruption time reduction), which is the most important factor from DISCOs’ perspective. The mixed integer linear programming (MILP) optimization technique is employed for selecting the optimal locations of the SRMUs considering the cost of losses, energy not supplied (ENS), and PV disconnection, which improves network operation cost. The methodology takes into consideration the cable failure rate and the interest rate. Moreover, the study introduces the Egyptian electrical distribution network and a pilot project for control centre development using SRMUs. The methodology is applied to a modified IEEE 37-node test feeder and a part of a specific district network in South Cairo consisting of 158 nodes; both systems include a number of PV distributed generation plants. Simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
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