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High Penetration of Rooftop Photovoltaic Cells in Low Voltage Distribution Networks: Voltage Imbalance and Improvement

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Renewable Energy Integration

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Installation of domestic rooftop photovoltaic cells (PVs) is increasing due to feed–in tariff and motivation driven by environmental concerns. Even though the increase in the PV installation is gradual, their locations and ratings are often random. Therefore, such single–phase bi–directional power flow caused by the residential customers can have adverse effect on the voltage imbalance of a three–phase distribution network. In this chapter, a voltage imbalance sensitivity analysis and stochastic evaluation are carried out based on the ratings and locations of single–phase grid–connected rooftop PVs in a residential low voltage distribution network. The stochastic evaluation, based on Monte Carlo method, predicts a failure index of non–standard voltage imbalance in the network in presence of PVs. Later, the application of series and parallel custom power devices are investigated to improve voltage imbalance problem in these feeders. In this regard, first, the effectiveness of these two custom power devices is demonstrated vis–à–vis the voltage imbalance reduction in feeders containing rooftop PVs. Their effectiveness is investigated from the installation location and rating points of view. Later, a Monte Carlo based stochastic analysis is utilized to investigate their efficacy for different uncertainties of load and PV rating and location in the network. This is followed by demonstrating the dynamic feasibility and stability issues of applying these devices in the network.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Smart Grid and Sustainable Power Systems, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Curtin University, Perth, Australia

    Farhad Shahnia

  2. School of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Arindam Ghosh

Authors
  1. Farhad Shahnia
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  2. Arindam Ghosh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Farhad Shahnia .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

    Jahangir Hossain

  2. Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia

    Apel Mahmud

Appendices

Appendix A

The stopping rule of the Monte Carlo method is chosen based on achieving an acceptable convergence for \( \overline{VUF} \) and Var(VUF). In this study, the program was rerun for several trial numbers. The mean (λ) and Var(VUF) at the beginning and end of feeder in addition to Failure Index (F I  %)for different trial numbers is listed in Table A.1. From this table, it can be seen that the mean, variance and failure index values do not vary much after N = 10,000 trials. The error value in Var(VUF) is given in the last column of the table assuming the base case of 10,000 trials. It can be seen that an increase in trial number from 10,000 does not increase the error in variance significantly. Therefore this value is chosen as the stopping rule.

Appendix B

The technical parameters of the considered network within the chapter are provided below (Table B.1).

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

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Shahnia, F., Ghosh, A. (2014). High Penetration of Rooftop Photovoltaic Cells in Low Voltage Distribution Networks: Voltage Imbalance and Improvement. In: Hossain, J., Mahmud, A. (eds) Renewable Energy Integration. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4585-27-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4585-27-9_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-4585-26-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-4585-27-9

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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