Improved voltage regulation strategies by PV inverters in LV rural networks

Wide-Scale Adoption of Photovoltaic Energy: Grid Code Modifications Are Explored in the Distribution Grid

“…to overcome these challenges, present grid requirements are expected to be upgraded with combined standardized features and custom demands. several studies have demonstrated the potential of PV systems to play an active role in the regulation of distributed grids similar to what the conventional power plants do today [12], [17]- [27], [30]- [32]. Moreover, PV systems can provide ancillary services to effectively mitigate the challenges related to intermittency [31].…”

Three-phase Photovoltaic Systems: Structures, Topologies, and Control

“…The principle behind this method, illustrated in Figure 12, is the alternate sweeping of the inverters in the power plant, such that the total power at the point of common coupling (PCC) is constant and maintains the required APR level. In Figure 12, while inverter A moves away from its MPP, inverter B is approaching it, shown as P = P A + P B = (P MP P A + P MP P B ) − AP R, (5) where P A and P B stand for the instantaneous power of inverters A and B, while P MPP A and P MPP B are the MPPs of inverters A and B, respectively. P MPP A and P MPP B are updated upon every sweep cycle, and the amplitude of the sweep is adjusted according to the irradiance level.…”

“…This passive behavior led to grid stability issues, mostly in low-voltage (LV) residential/rural areas, where PV penetration was very high, thereby overwhelming the LV distribution transformers and increasing the voltage in the distribution system. This led to the fact that during periods of high irradiance, the voltage at the LV distribution line has increased, leading to several possible outcomes [3][4][5].…”

“…The amount of reactive power can be calculated from the actual active power or based on the actual grid voltage [5].…”

Suggested grid code modifications to ensure wide-scale adoption of photovoltaic energy in distributed power generation systems

“…To overcome the above issues, the present grid requirements are expected to be upgraded with combined standardized features and custom demands. Several previous studies have demonstrated the potential of PV systems to play an active role in the regulation of distributed grids as what conventional power plants do [10], [14]- [18], [21]- [23]. Moreover, those PV systems can provide ancillary service to effectively mitigate the challenges related to indeterminacy [22].…”