A distributed economic model predictive control-based FPPT scheme for large-scale solar farm

Abstract

Increasing solar-photovoltaic-power penetration necessitates the implementation of flexible power point tracking (FPPT) in solar farms. However, coordinating multiple solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems (SPVPGSs) poses a significant challenge due to their inherent intermittency and varying dynamic characteristics, complicating FPPT implementation. To overcome this challenge, this paper proposes a distributed economic model predictive control (DEMPC) scheme to achieve FPPT, while simultaneously enhancing overall economic performance in solar farms. By integrating solar farm control and local control into one optimal control framework, this scheme eliminates the need for power allocation, PV voltage reference calculation, and pulse width modulation. Leveraging the SPVPGS model and soft power constraint, DEMPC controllers are designed to achieve the economic targets of solar farms, which cooperate through a communication network to realize FPPT and economic optimization. Additionally, the strong nonlinearity of SPVPGS causes a non-convex mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem, solved by a MINLP algorithm using finite converter switching states. Simulations under step-changed irradiance and power reference, as well as urgent maintenance conditions, demonstrate that the DEMPC-based FPPT scheme significantly outperforms the traditional hierarchical model predictive control-based FPPT scheme, presenting both superior dynamic response and enhanced economic performance in FPPT implementation.