REACTIVE POWER SUPPORT USING PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS: TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND IMPLEMENTATION ALGORITHMS

Abstract

As photovoltaic systems (PVs) are becoming more widespread as a supplement or even replacement to conventional generators, many researchers have begun utilising reactive power from PV inverters to provide benefits to the power system. However the economic costs and benefits of the reactive power support, as well as its practical implementation, have not been analysed in detail. Hence, this thesis aims to quantify the economic and technical impacts of reactive power provision using PV, and to explore practical and effective ways to optimise the PV reactive power dispatch in the power system. Consequently, this thesis contributes mainly through: 1) the formulation of reactive power cost from PV, and 2) the development of algorithms to optimise reactive power dispatch efficiently and effectively. The findings and approaches in this thesis would then be able to help power system planners and operators in making sound regulations with regard to reactive power support from PV.