With the widespread adoption of photovoltaic (PV) systems across the world, many researchers, industry players, and regulators have been exploring the use of reactive power from PV to support the grid. This thesis is the first to comprehensively quantify and analyse the techno-economic cost and benefits of reactive power support using PV. On top of formulating the cost of PV reactive power and identifying the feasible range of its monetary incentives, this thesis has also proposed practical methods to implement the reactive power dispatch effectively and efficiently, with and without communication infrastructure. The findings and approaches in this work can therefore help power system planners and operators towards better integration of PV into the electrical grid, both in terms of regulation and implementation.

Learn the fundamentals of smart photovoltaic (PV) inverter technology with this insightful one-stop resource Smart Solar PV Inverters with Advanced Grid Support Functionalities presents a comprehensive coverage of smart PV inverter technologies in alleviating grid integration challenges of solar PV systems and for additionally enhancing grid reliability. Accomplished author Rajiv Varma systematically integrates information from the wealth of knowledge on smart inverters available from EPRI, NREL, NERC, SIWG, EU-PVSEC, CIGRE, IEEE publications; and utility experiences worldwide. The book further presents a novel, author-developed and patented smart inverter technology for utilizing solar PV plants both in the night and day as a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) Controller STATCOM, named PV-STATCOM. Replete with case studies, this book includes over 600 references and 280 illustrations. Smart Solar PV Inverters with Advanced Grid Support Functionalities’ features include: Concepts of active and reactive power control; description of different smart inverter functions, and modeling of smart PV inverter systems Distribution system applications of PV-STATCOM for dynamic voltage control, enhancing connectivity of solar PV and wind farms, and stabilization of critical motors Transmission system applications of PV-STATCOM for improving power transfer capacity, power oscillation damping (POD), suppression of subsynchronous oscillations, mitigation of fault induced delayed voltage recovery (FIDVR), and fast frequency response (FFR) with POD Hosting capacity for solar PV systems, its enhancement through effective settings of different smart inverter functions; and control coordination of smart PV inverters Emerging smart inverter grid support functions and their pioneering field demonstrations worldwide, including Canada, USA, UK, Chile, China, and India. Perfect for system planners and system operators, utility engineers, inverter manufacturers and solar farm developers, this book will prove to be an important resource for academics and graduate students involved in electrical power and renewable energy systems.

Grid converters are the key player in renewable energy integration. The high penetration of renewable energy systems is calling for new more stringent grid requirements. As a consequence, the grid converters should be able to exhibit advanced functions like: dynamic control of active and reactive power, operation within a wide range of voltage and frequency, voltage ride-through capability, reactive current injection during faults, grid services support. This book explains the topologies, modulation and control of grid converters for both photovoltaic and wind power applications. In addition to power electronics, this book focuses on the specific applications in photovoltaic wind power systems where grid condition is an essential factor. With a review of the most recent grid requirements for photovoltaic and wind power systems, the book discusses these other relevant issues: modern grid inverter topologies for photovoltaic and wind turbines islanding detection methods for photovoltaic systems synchronization techniques based on second order generalized integrators (SOGI) advanced synchronization techniques with robust operation under grid unbalance condition grid filter design and active damping techniques power control under grid fault conditions, considering both positive and negative sequences Grid Converters for Photovoltaic and Wind Power Systems is intended as a coursebook for graduated students with a background in electrical engineering and also for professionals in the evolving renewable energy industry. For people from academia interested in adopting the course, a set of slides is available for download from the website. www.wiley.com/go/grid_converters

Advances in Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Power Conversion Systems addresses the technological challenges of fluctuating and unreliable power supply in grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems to help students, researchers, and engineers work toward more PV installations in the grid to make society more sustainable and reliable while complying with grid regulations. The authors combine their extensive knowledge and experience in this book to address both the basics of the power electronic converter technology and the advances of such practical electric power conversion systems. This book includes extensive, step-by-step practical application examples to assist students and engineers to better understand the role of power electronics in modern PV applications and solve the practical issues in grid-connected PV systems. - Offers a step-by-step modeling approach to solving the practical issues and technological challenges in grid-connected PV systems - Provides practical application examples to assist the reader to better understand the role of power electronics in modern PV applications - Extends to the most modern technologies for grid-friendly PV systems

This thesis investigates the impact of: i) the low voltage ride-through and dynamic voltage support capability; ii) the active current recovery rate; iii) the local voltage control; and iv) the plant-level voltage control of large-scale photovoltaic systems on short-term voltage stability and fault-induced delayed voltage recovery as well as transient and frequency stability. The power system dynamic performance is analysed using state-of-the-art methods, such as phasor mode time-domain simulations and the calculation of the critical clearing time that determines the stability margin. Moreover, the recently developed Kullback-Leibler divergence measure is applied to assess the quality of the voltage recovery. Drawbacks of this metric are outlined and a novel metric, the so-called voltage recovery index, is defined that quantifies the delayed voltage recovery more systematically. The studies are performed with a generic photovoltaic system model and typical model parameters are used that were determined in collaboration with a manufacturer. The stability analysis is performed in DIgSILENT PowerFactory using: i) a one-load infinite-bus system; and ii) an IEEE multi-machine voltage stability test system, namely the Nordic test system. The results show that with the adequate control of photovoltaic systems, power system dynamic performance can be significantly improved.

This book describes the fundamental aspects of the new generation of electrical distribution grids, taking as its starting point the opportunities that exist for restructuring existing infrastructure. It emphasizes the incorporation of renewable energy sources into the distribution grid and the need for a technological evolution towards the implementation of smartgrids. The book is organized into two parts: the first part analyzes the integration of distributed energy sources into the distribution grid and the impact of these sources on grid operation. After a general description of the general characteristics of distribution grids and renewable energy sources, it then analyzes the economics of electrical energy distribution networks and presents the impact of these sources on grid operation. The second part of the book then analyzes the various functions which allow for safe operation of the grid and realization of the path towards real world application of smartgrids.