Steady state analysis of PV integration in hydro dominated INPS grid using ETAP

Grid connected renewable energy sources are gradually being popular nowadays, but their unpredictable nature of output may result in unwanted consequences in a power system. Prior to integration of renewable source in an electrical power grid, the capability of grid to handle that source must be studied thoroughly. The amount of renewable energy that can be hosted by a power system is called as its hosting capacity. This paper is focused on finding hosting capacity of photo-voltaic(PV) in Integrated Nepal Power System (INPS) grid. Time domain load flow has been performed to identify if the system has enough margin and ramping capability to accommodate given size of PV. This load flow has been performed for dry and wet season using ETAP, an electrical simulation software. The PV plants are located in 5 different places, and size of PV plant is initially set to 1 MWp in each place, thereafter gradually increased in step of 1 MWp and eventually the hosting capacity of PV in INPS is determined.