Contribution of inverter based photovoltaic generators to power quality at low voltage

The inclusion of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into the grid is a great way to maximize and increase power generation at large. However it could also result in power quality issues due to their generation being dependent on external factors such as the weather. This paper aims to investigate power quality problems and potential solutions in low-voltage networks with high penetration of DER sources. The PV-Grid system is modelled and simulated using real PV irradiance and temperature data collected from PV panels during the day time on 22 of May 2015. The I-V and P-V characteristics of the PV-array were extracted to create a realistic model of the solar panels used in this paper. A Distribution STATic COMpensator (D-STATCOM) is utilized as the grid-connected inverter to perform conversion of power, power management, and compensation of reactive power. The simulation results presented demonstrate the use of the D-STATCOM to both convert the real power to AC and contribute towards the management of system reactive power at up to 100% of its rating.