Reactive Power Compensation with PV Inverters for System Loss Reduction

Saša Vlahinić, Dubravko Franković, Vitomir Komen and Anamarija Antonić
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Saša Vlahinić: Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Dubravko Franković: Faculty of Engineering, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Vitomir Komen: HEP—Distribution system operator, Elektroprimorje, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Anamarija Antonić: HOPS–Croatian transmission system operator, 51211 Matulji, Croatia

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) system inverters usually operate at unitary power factor, injecting only active power into the system. Recently, many studies have been done analyzing potential benefits of reactive power provisioning, such as voltage regulation, congestion mitigation and loss reduction. This article analyzes possibilities for loss reduction in a typical medium voltage distribution system. Losses in the system are compared to the losses in the PV inverters. Different load conditions and PV penetration levels are considered and for each scenario various active power generation by PV inverters are taken into account, together with allowable levels of reactive power provisioning. As far as loss reduction is considered, there is very small number of PV inverters operating conditions for which positive energy balance exists. For low and medium load levels, there is no practical possibility for loss reduction. For high loading levels and higher PV penetration specific reactive savings, due to reactive power provisioning, increase and become bigger than additional losses in PV inverters, but for a very limited range of power factors.

Keywords: PV inverters; reactive power generation; reactive power compensation; loss reduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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