Modeling and integration of smart control strategies to improve large-scale pv system management and operation in a low inertia power grid

In the context of international endeavors to address climate change, there is a discernible transition occurring from the utilization of fossil fuels to the adoption of cleaner and sustainable sources of energy. The aforementioned transformation has resulted in a growing appeal and improved financial feasibility of renewable energy initiatives. These sources have a substantial impact on the reduction of CO2 emissions and the improvement of energy supply security. Nevertheless, the integration of renewable energy sources into transmission and distribution power networks also brings about a certain level of unpredictability and uncertainty. Effectively aligning real-time energy generation with customer demand faces complexity due to the need for affordable energy storage. Distributed generation helps mitigate transmission losses but introduces operational complexity. Growing electricity demand from electric transport and heating poses challenges for conventional power stations and infrastructure. Integrating renewable energy sources (RESs) offers substantial potential for reducing carbon emissions, combatting air pollution, addressing climate change, and improving overall quality of life. Traditional synchronous generators maintain power balance through kinetic energy, absent in RESs due to electromagnetic decoupling. RESs require specific control strategies for frequency regulation, given their intermittent nature and unique dynamics. Control complexities heighten when system inertia decreases due to the absence of synchronous generators connected to the grid. System inertia is pivotal for power system stability during sudden imbalances in active power. Thus, reducing system inertia is a significant concern for ensuring frequency stability. Integrating RESs also introduces technical hurdles, including heightened uncertainty, limited fault tolerance, increased fault currents, lower generation reserves, and compromised power quality. To address these challenges, advanced technologies, including control strategies, optimization, energy storage, and fault current limiters, have been developed. Employing these innovative methodologies is crucial for successful RES integration into power systems, while navigating inherent technological complexities. This thesis revolves around a pivotal moment in the energy landscape of a Middle Eastern country, driven by factors like increased energy demand, growing environmental awareness, and government support for renewables. Large-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects are now highly attractive, capable of generating hundreds of megawatts within a single grid area. However, integrating these projects into the power grid of this nation presents substantial challenges that this research seeks to address. To ensure a seamless and improved integration of large-scale PV systems, this study employs a multifaceted approach. It begins with the creation of a comprehensive computer model meticulously representing the power grid of this Middle Eastern country. Real-world data is then used to validate this model, enhancing our understanding of the grid's behavior and any disparities between the model and the actual system. Moreover, the research focuses on quantifying the system's inertia, a crucial parameter for grid stability and disturbance response, especially with the increasing presence of PV generation. By analyzing the system's dynamic response, this objective aims to identify the system's inertia level and its implications for PV integration, ensuring secure power grid operation. In addition, the study delves into the impacts of high PV penetration on the electricity grid of this nation, considering factors like variable output, intermittency, and integration challenges. It seeks to pinpoint issues related to energy balance and grid stability and proposes strategies for reliable and secure grid operation under high PV penetration scenarios. Enhancing grid stability further involves encouraging large-scale PV systems to actively participate in providing inertial response. Investigating various control strategies and operational techniques to achieve this goal aims to make the power system more robust and resilient. Lastly, the study identifies and implements control strategies to optimize PV system integration, including voltage regulation, power flow management, and frequency control. These strategies aim to improve integration, ensuring reliable operation and adherence to grid stability and power quality standards. The hypotheses guiding this thesis encompass a range of critical questions, including the optimization of PV systems for grid stability and the improvement of grid control algorithms to enhance PV system penetration. The evaluation of different PV system configurations and their impact on grid stability and power quality is also addressed. In summary, this research, grounded in empirical data and rigorous modeling, aims to comprehensively address these hypotheses. Ultimately, it seeks to provide valuable insights that support the successful integration of large-scale PV systems into Jordan's power grid, contributing to the nation's sustainable and resilient energy generation journey

Evaluating the inertia of the Jordanian power grid

The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources in power grids has resulted in the need for a comprehensive evaluation of their impact on the dynamic behavior of the power system, including its inertia. This study aimed to evaluate the inertia of the current Jordanian power system at different penetration levels of renewable energy sources using DIgSILENT PowerFactory simulation software. In this study, the value of the constant inertia was calculated to be 8.755 s. The results were analyzed to determine the effect of renewable energy penetration on the inertia of the power system. The findings provide valuable information for the development of control strategies for integrating renewable energy sources into the Jordanian power system, ensuring stability and reliability in the power system operation. This study contributes to the understanding of the impact of renewable energy sources on power system inertia and supports the development of renewable energy integration strategies.13 página

Integration of solar chimney power plant with photovoltaic for co-cooling, power production, and water desalination

This work explores the technical possibilities of increasing the efficiency of a standard solar chimney power plant (SCPP) by integrating it with photovoltaic (PV) panels. The integration is possible by using the collector circumference to install the PV collectors, which provide a heat sink, allow for the better harvesting of the solar radiation, and increase energy production. The new design led to an increase in the annual electricity production from 380 to 494 MWh and water production from 278 to 326 k tons/year compared with the standard SCPP, marking an increase of 30% and 17%, respectively. The results also show that the integration reduced the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the localized cost of energy, and the capital cost of investment by 30%, 36%, and 20%, respectively. The proposed design supports the sustainable replacement of the existing desalination plants with zero operational costs and an excellent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.The authors would like to the thank the Al Hussien Technical University, Amman, Jordan (www.htu.edu.jo, (accessed on 30 August 2021).) for their support in developing this work.Scopu

Integration of Solar Chimney Power Plant with Photovoltaic for Co-Cooling, Power Production, and Water Desalination

This work explores the technical possibilities of increasing the efficiency of a standard solar chimney power plant (SCPP) by integrating it with photovoltaic (PV) panels. The integration is possible by using the collector circumference to install the PV collectors, which provide a heat sink, allow for the better harvesting of the solar radiation, and increase energy production. The new design led to an increase in the annual electricity production from 380 to 494 MWh and water production from 278 to 326 k tons/year compared with the standard SCPP, marking an increase of 30% and 17%, respectively. The results also show that the integration reduced the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the localized cost of energy, and the capital cost of investment by 30%, 36%, and 20%, respectively. The proposed design supports the sustainable replacement of the existing desalination plants with zero operational costs and an excellent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

Triple-renewable energy system for electricity production and water desalination

This work presents a novel triple-renewable energy system (TRES) that is based on integrating the photovoltaic panels (PVPs), conventional solar chimney (CSC), and cooling tower (CT) in one structure. The ultimate objective of the proposed TRES system is to produce electrical power (Pelc), desalinated water (Dw), and if required cooling utilities. The components of the system include a chimney tower, collector, base, PVPs, water pool, bi-directional turbine, and water sprinklers. The TRES system can be operated as CSC during the daytime and CT at night providing 24-h operation. The PVPs were integrated within the structure to increase the Pelc production and enhance the process performance by heating the air inside the system. The TRES structure increased the efficiency to 0.860% in comparison with the CSC (0.313%). The annual Pelc production from the TRES system was found to be 792 MWh compared with only 380 MWh generated by the CSC achieving 2.1 folds overall improvement. The CSC-PV and CT contributed to 47% (494 MWh) and 24% (253 MWh) of the Pelc production, respectively. The annual Dw production was found to be 1.2-fold higher (163,142 tons) higher than the CSC (139,443 tons). The newly developed TRES system offers a great potential to produce Pelc and Dw and save fossil fuel consumption while reducing the emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) to the atmosphere.Other Information Published in: Environmental Science and Pollution Research License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22547-2</p