Analyzing the consequences of power factor degradation in grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems
- This study examines the impact of integrating solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on power factor (PF) within low-voltage radial distribution networks, using empirical data from the Energy Self-Sufficiency for Health Facilities in Ghana (EnerSHelF) project sites in Ghana. The research included simulations focusing on optimal PV integration, with and without PF considerations, and the strategic placement of PV and shunt capacitors (SC). Three scenarios evaluated PV injection at high-load demand nodes, achieving penetration levels of 85.00 percent, 82.88 percent with high voltage drop, and 100.00 percent with high loss nodes. Additionally, three scenarios assessed SC allocation methods: proportional to the node's reactive power demand (Scenario I), even distribution (Scenario II), and proportional to installed PV capacity at PV nodes (Scenario III). The analysis used a twin-objective index (TOI), combining voltage deviations and power factor degradation. Results showed significant PV curtailment was necessary to achieve standard PF. Optimal penetration levels, considering TOI, reduced PV penetration from 85.00 percent to 63.75 percent, 82.88 percent to 57.38 percent, and 100.00 percent to 72.50 percent for high load, high voltage drops, and high loss nodes, respectively. Notably, all scenarios showed a concerning PF of 0.00 at dead-end nodes (P20, P21, P22). Scenario I achieved PF ranges of -0.26 to 1.00 with PV at high load, -0.69 to 1.00 with PV at high voltage drop, and 0.95 to 1.00 with PV at high loss nodes. Scenario II produced similar ranges, -0.48 to 1.00, -1.00 to 0.99, and 0.30 to 0.96, with PV placement at high load, voltage drops, and loss nodes, respectively. Scenario III yielded ranges of -0.19 to 0.97 (high load), -0.23 to 1.00 (high voltage drop), and 0.86 to 0.96 (high losses). The study concluded that the most effective strategy involves installing PVs at high-loss nodes and distributing SCs proportionally to the node's reactive power demand (Scenario I). This approach achieved a more uniform PF pattern throughout the network, highlighting the practical implications of strategic PV placement and targeted reactive power compensation for maintaining a healthy and efficient distribution system with solar PV integration.
Document Type: | Article |
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Language: | English |
Author: | Edward Dodzi Amekah, Emmanuel Wendsongre Ramde, David Ato Quansah, Elvis Twumasi, Stefanie Meilinger, Thorsten Schneiders |
Parent Title (English): | e-Prime - Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy |
Volume: | 9 |
Article Number: | 100715 |
Number of pages: | 23 |
ISSN: | 2772-6711 |
URN: | urn:nbn:de:hbz:1044-opus-85464 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prime.2024.100715 |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Publishing Institution: | Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg |
Date of first publication: | 2024/08/04 |
Copyright: | © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license. |
Funding: | I want to thank the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBR) in the frame of the project funding institution of energy self-sufficiency for Health Facilities in Ghana (EnerSHelF) under grant no. 03SF0567A-G in Partnership with the Brew-Hammond Energy Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana. |
Keyword: | Distribution networks; Grid-connected systems; Measurement data from health facilities; Power factor degradation; Renewable energy integration; Shunt capacitor voltage profile and System losses; Solar photovoltaics |
Departments, institutes and facilities: | Fachbereich Ingenieurwissenschaften und Kommunikation |
Institut für Technik, Ressourcenschonung und Energieeffizienz (TREE) | |
Internationales Zentrum für Nachhaltige Entwicklung (IZNE) | |
Projects: | CLIENT II - Verbundvorhaben EnerSHelf: Energieversorgung für Gesundheitseinrichtungen in Ghana; Teilvorhaben Entwicklung und Analyse technischer Lösungen im länderspezifischen politisch-ökonomischen Kontext (DE/BMBF/03SF0567A) |
Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC): | 5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 53 Physik / 537 Elektrizität, Elektronik |
Entry in this database: | 2024/08/19 |
Licence (German): | Creative Commons - CC BY-NC-ND - Namensnennung - Nicht kommerziell - Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International |