Impacts of On-Grid Solar PV on Distribution Networks and Potential Solutions: A Case Study in the Region of Zahle

Project Details

• Student(s): Jessica Korkmaz
• Advisor(s): Dr. Raymond Ghajar
• Department: Electrical & Computer
• Academic Year(s): 2024-2025

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed an increase in the installation of solar photovoltaic-based distributed generators or PV DGs mainly in countries with high solar potential such as Lebanon. The growing trend of installing on-grid PV-DGs is gradually impacting the safe and reliable operation of distribution networks. This research uses OpenDSS and MATLAB to investigates the impacts of on-grid PV DGs in the region of Zahle, Lebanon on the power factor, power flows, voltage and current profiles, and examines solutions to mitigate these impacts using available and affordable resources and infrastructures such as Capacitor Banks (CBs). The optimal siting and sizing of CBs are performed on the modeled network to alleviate the impacts of the PV DGs using five different optimization algorithms: the single-objective genetic algorithm (SOGA), the combined SOGA and loss sensitivity factor algorithm (SOGA-LSF), the multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA), the combined MOGA-LSF and the CAPADD algorithm. The CB allocation solutions obtained from these algorithms are then compared from a technical and economic perspective. The novelty of the research lies in the realistic portrayal of the impacts that PV energy has on distribution networks that are generally forsaken, and on the practicality of the CB allocation methodology and network model proposed. It is expected that the results and conclusions drawn from this research will help distribution utilities deal with the rising issues emanating from PV DGs and predict the impacts they may have before their integration into distribution networks.

Keywords: PV distributed generation, Optimal siting and sizing, Loss sensitivity factor, Genetic algorithm, Distribution networks.