Abstract
Integration of high volume (high penetration) of photovoltaic (PV) generation with power grids consequently leads to some technical challenges that are mainly due to the intermittent nature of solar energy, the volume of data involved in the smart grid architecture, and the impact power electronic-based smart inverters. These challenges include reverse power flow, voltage fluctuations, power quality issues, dynamic stability, big data challenges and others. This paper investigates the existing challenges with the current level of PV penetration and looks into the challenges with high PV penetration in future scenarios such as smart cities, transactive energy, proliferation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), possible eclipse events, big data issues and environmental impacts. Within the context of these future scenarios, this paper reviewed the existing solutions and provides insights to new and future solutions that could be explored to ultimately address these issues and improve the smart grid’s security, reliability and resiliency.
Highlights
The growing concern for the depletion of the ozone layer and climate change [1,2], partly caused by power generation from conventional sources, have stirred many countries to make several projections for large-scale integration of renewable energy sources into their grids [3,4]
To ensure grid stability, which could be threatened with high PV penetration, power generation must be able to meet the load demand plus the losses associated with transferring the power from the point of generation to the load
Whenever there is a drop in PV power generation, the developed systems adjust the air conditioning system by putting into consideration the well-being of the occupants of the building
Summary
The growing concern for the depletion of the ozone layer and climate change [1,2], partly caused by power generation from conventional sources, have stirred many countries to make several projections for large-scale integration of renewable energy sources into their grids [3,4]. We show the consistent increase in the installation of PV globally. This capacity additions have been on the increase consistently except between 2011–2012 and 2013–2014. PV total capacity is tied to the low-voltage (LV) distribution grid [16]. The severity of these challenges most times becomes aggravated with the increasing level of PV penetration [17] These challenges depend on the point of interconnection of the PV systems on the grid [18,19], as well as the state and nature of legacy devices already installed on the grid. The proliferation of PV systems tied to the low voltage distribution grid makes it imperative to review the challenges (both present and future) on distribution grid network systems with high PV penetration and propose some possible solutions to mitigate these challenges.
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