Comparison of Reactive Power Control Techniques for Solar PV Inverters to Mitigate Voltage Rise in Low-Voltage Grids

Dilini Almeida,Jagadeesh Pasupuleti,Janaka Ekanayake

doi:10.3390/electronics10131569

Abstract

The greater integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems into low-voltage (LV) distribution networks has posed new challenges for the operation of power systems. The violation of voltage limits attributed to reverse power flow has been recognized as one of the significant consequences of high PV penetration. Thus, the reactive power control of PV inverters has emerged as a viable solution for localized voltage regulation. This paper presents a detailed study on a typical Malaysian LV distribution network to demonstrate the effectiveness of different reactive power control techniques in mitigating overvoltage issues due to high PV integration. The performance of four reactive power control techniques namely, fixed power factor control, scheduled power factor control, power factor control as a function of injected active power, and voltage-dependent reactive power control were analyzed and compared in terms of the number of customers with voltage violations, reactive power compensation, and network losses. Three-phase, time-series, high-resolution power-flow simulations were performed to investigate the potential overvoltage issues and to assess the performance of the adoption of reactive power controls in the network. The simulation results revealed that the incorporation of reactive power controls of solar PV inverters aids in successfully mitigating the overvoltage issues of typical Malaysian networks. In particular, the Volt-Var control outperformed the other control techniques by providing effective voltage regulation while requiring less reactive power compensation. Furthermore, the comparative analysis highlighted the significance of employing the most appropriate control technique for improved network performance.

Highlights

The growing anxieties about the depletion of fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, and global warming have driven a steep deployment of sustainable energy sources
Three-phase time-series power-flow simulations were performed for the basecase scenario considering the daily residential load and the sunny and normal PV generation profiles
This paper explored the performance of four reactive power control techniques for PV

Summary

Introduction

The growing anxieties about the depletion of fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, and global warming have driven a steep deployment of sustainable energy sources. Solar power generation has seen rapid growth due to technological advancements, significant cost reductions in photovoltaic (PV) modules, and strong policy support from many countries around the world. According to a recent report published by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on the future of solar photovoltaics, the global installed capacity of solar PVs would increase by six times by 2030 and reach. In Malaysia, the government has pledged to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity of its GDP by 35% by 2030 relative to the emission intensity of its GDP in 2005, with a further 10% reduction if international technology transfer occurs. It is projected that solar PV will be utilized as a significant contributor to the achievement of the aspirational national renewable target of 20% of renewable energy by 2025 [2]

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Discussion

Conclusion