Investigating the Impact of Grid-Tied Photovoltaic System in the Aljouf Region, Saudi Arabia, Using Dynamic Reactive Power Control

Abstract

Due to uncertain photovoltaic (PV) power generation, analyzing the voltage stability of transmission networks with a large PV plant is challenging. The stability of PV output power is a critical factor in establishing PV penetration levels in active transmission networks when assessing loading capabilities. Therefore, this article contributes to enhancing the understanding of how a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) could be used as part of the power system network. STATCOMs are often used to improve the static and transient voltage, maintain transmission limits, and reduce low-frequency disturbances. With the help of a STATCOM unit, a proper investigation and analysis of dynamic voltage stability in a transmission system are presented. The validity of the study is evaluated by the Saudi Arabia grid code (SAGC). The system being tested is comprised of a 300 MW PV plant in Sakaka, Saudi Arabia, integrated into a 17-bus transmission power network and a STATCOM, which is employed at one of the buses. PSAT software is used to evaluate a number of case studies to determine the transient voltage stability with and without the STATCOM and the PV plant. The simulation findings demonstrate how STATCOM functions to improve the quality of the power system in accordance with the SAGC. In addition, the analysis of voltage stability demonstrates that the power network’s resilience to short circuits at the PV system’s grid connection point significantly impacts the voltage’s dynamic behavior.

Transforming Saudi Arabia’s Energy Landscape towards a Sustainable Future: Progress of Solar Photovoltaic Energy Deployment

“…The Sakaka solar PV project is one of the first large-scale commercial solar projects located in Sakaka, Al-Jouf Province of Saudi Arabia. The Sakaka solar PV project is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels and increase its renewable energy capacity to 58.7 GW by 2030 [9,11,29,30]. This project also supports the Kingdom's efforts to diversify its economy and reduce its carbon footprint.…”

“…Two of the most notable large-scale solar projects are the Sakaka solar PV project and the Sudair solar PV project. The Sakaka solar PV project is located in the Al-Jouf region of Saudi Arabia and has a total capacity of 300 MW [11,12], whereas the Sudair solar PV project, located in Riyadh, has a capacity of 1.5 GW [13,14].…”