Integrating solar PV with the electricity grid through conventional power plants

Abstract

Several challenges affect solar PV (Photovoltaic) integration with Jordan electricity grid. Major challenges are PV power variability, uncertainty and constructing new transmission lines on unqualified grid. Conventional plants consume fuel to export the electricity to the grid and to the in-house load which requires, in average, 1.6∼7.8% from plant generated energy. This study aims to propose new method to indirectly integrate PV with the grid through conventional plants (Hybrid Model). The model consists of conventional power generation and PV plant. During solar radiation availability in-house load is fed from solar field, otherwise part of generated energy will be consumed by internal load. PV SYST 6.40 program was used to simulate a grid connected PV system (8 MWp) equal to the PV system capacity proposed for the hybrid model in the case study. The technical constraints and the economic performance in win-win scenarios were studied and compared. No technical constraints were found and the economic evaluation results of the PV system proposed for the hybrid model showed more attractive investment for Power Producers to install PV system in hybrid scheme (13.2%-IRR, 7 years pay-back period and 16,841,528 USD NPV) against gird-connected PV system (9.9%-IRR, 9 years pay-back period and 12,120,193 USD NPV). Avoided cost for transmission line and fuel saving when applying hybrid model counted as 2,095,000 USD and 782,248 USD/year respectively. Finally, applying hybrid model to operational plants in Jordan would result in 151 MWp PV integrated to the grid with Zero transmission cost.