The impact of PV orientation in smart grids

In the last years it became a practice photovoltaic power plant to be designed and built with south orientation, the main reason for this being maximum generation of clean energy. This economic approach is justified, from the investors' point of view, but it does not take in to consideration, the different aspects energy produced over the distribution network. Considering the process of decentralization of the energy system that is to a great extend provoked by the systematically conducted policy stimulating the construction of new PV, the problem with the PV modules orientations is very significant and from its correct solution depends the efficient dispatching of the distribution network. The purpose of this article is to explore the possibilities of differently oriented PVs connected to the medium voltage distribution network. The focus is on MV network with differently oriented PV battery systems and different loads. It makes a parallel between the options provided by differently oriented photovoltaic power plants with battery systems for dispatching the network. The article explores the relationship between the orientation of the photovoltaic power plants and their optimal allocation in different nodes. The study proves that for the differently oriented photovoltaic power plants the optimal allocation is not always in the same nodes. It reveals the importance of the orientation of the photovoltaic power plants and not just the estimated power, which is the practice until now, for the proper planning of Distribution Company for newly constructed PV power plants. The research proves that in order to achieve optimal coverage of load profile with minimum investment and electrical losses, the optimum orientation for the construction of photovoltaic power plants with storage systems must take into account not only the orientation of the panels / east, south, west / but also the size of the load and its profile. The investors' interest is also important.