Optimum ground-mounted on-grid connected photovoltaic system

Abstract

This research endeavors to enhance grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems by refining the methodology used to select suitable geographical photovoltaic sites. The prevalent criterion in existing literature for choosing sites emphasizes proximity to power transmission lines. However, this criterion overlooks essential grid requirements, such as approved bus bars and permissible sizes for new photovoltaic systems. To overcome this limitation, the study introduces a novel criterion. Instead of relying solely on proximity to transmission lines, the proposed approach replaces this with the concept of optimal geographical bus bar locations. Additionally, the generated findings can be fine-tuned through consideration of the specified system size of the grid, thereby improving the identification of geographically suitable sites more effectively.The proposed methodology lies in the incorporation of five distinct approaches. The primary approach employs the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm to ascertain the most suitable bus bars and sizes for three Photovoltaic Distributed Generation (PV-DG), with a focus on minimizing power loss within Aden's electric grid. The second approach involves utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process-Weighted Linear Combination (AHP-WLC) method in conjunction with Geographic information systems (GIS) to accurately select appropriate PV sites. The third approach is an initial design to eliminate small geolocations that do not align with the PV system's size. Fourthly, the Least Costly Path Model (LCPM) is harnessed to choose a single geolocation. The final approach is dedicated to performing techno-economic analysis.The key findings reveal that the optimal bus bars are located at 30, 46, and 64 in the grid, with a total injected active power of 26 MW. Simultaneously, the identified optimal geolocations cover areas of 0.88, 0.48, and 1.37 km^2 for each bus bar, respectively. In the comparative analysis, the utilization of the proposed criterion involving optimal bus bars results in a larger geographical coverage (97.99 km2) compared to the traditional criterion (76.28 km2). Furthermore, the techno-economic evaluation indicates the viability of implementing PV systems in Aden.The authors have a strong conviction that the framework and outcomes of this study will garner significant attention and prove valuable in assisting decision-makers to improve the planning of grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems.