Stability Analysis of Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Systems

Background

Power systems are designed to operate in a top-down fashion which means power is generated from generating station, then transmitted through the transmission network, and finally distributed to the consumers through distribution system. But the recent trends of power system engineers are to operate the systems within their stability limits as well as put some new generation within the distribution network. The inclusion of generators within the distribution level is known as distributed generation. However, PV generation has also reaching consequences in transmission and distribution networks. As the conventional generators are not environment friend, the power industries are now trying to introduce some alternative sources of energy from which solar energy, i.e., PV generation is the best choice.

The operation of PV systems depends on several factors such as environmental, technical, commercial social and political. As our target is to present an elaborate overview of technical factor, some technical concerns are listed below (Rikos, et al., 2008):

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  saturation of the existing network and reduction of security margins;

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  geographical and ecological constraints;

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  stability and security problems;

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  continuous demand growth;

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  need for investment to sustain the development in the power demand;

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  privatization, deregulation and competitive environment of the electricity market;

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  emergence of new rational technologies with ecological advantages, which can be combined with heat generation.