Harmonic Analysis of Grid-Connected Solar PV Systems with Nonlinear Household Loads in Low-Voltage Distribution Networks

Syed Muhammad Ahsan, Hassan Abbas Khan, Akhtar Hussain, Sarmad Tariq and Nauman Ahmad Zaffar
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Syed Muhammad Ahsan: Department of Electrical Engineering, SBA School of Science and Engineering, LUMS, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
Hassan Abbas Khan: Department of Electrical Engineering, SBA School of Science and Engineering, LUMS, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
Akhtar Hussain: Department of Electrical Engineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea
Sarmad Tariq: Department of Electrical Engineering, SBA School of Science and Engineering, LUMS, Lahore 54792, Pakistan
Nauman Ahmad Zaffar: Department of Electrical Engineering, SBA School of Science and Engineering, LUMS, Lahore 54792, Pakistan

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-23

Abstract: Grid-connected rooftop and ground-mounted solar photovoltaics (PV) systems have gained attraction globally in recent years due to (a) reduced PV module prices, (b) maturing inverter technology, and (c) incentives through feed-in tariff (FiT) or net metering. The large penetration of grid-connected PVs coupled with nonlinear loads and bidirectional power flows impacts grid voltage levels and total harmonic distortion (THD) at the low-voltage (LV) distribution feeder. In this study, LV power quality issues with significant nonlinear loads were evaluated at the point of common coupling (PCC). Various cases of PV penetration (0 to 100%) were evaluated for practical feeder data in a weak grid environment and tested at the radial modified IEEE-34 bus system to evaluate total harmonic distortion in the current (THD i ) and voltage (THD v ) at PCC along with the seasonal variations. Results showed lower active, reactive, and apparent power losses of 1.9, 2.6, and 3.3%, respectively, with 50% solar PV penetration in the LV network as the voltage profile of the LV network was significantly improved compared to the base case of no solar. Further, with 50% PV penetration, THD i and THD v at PCC were noted as 10.2 and 5.2%, respectively, which is within the IEEE benchmarks at LV.

Keywords: photovoltaics (PV) system; single-phase system; nonlinear loads; point of common coupling (PCC); total harmonic distortion (THD); power losses (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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