Distributed control of reactive power from photovoltaic inverters

Why should PV inverters be controlled by reactive power injection?

As side benefit, the control of reactive power injection at each PV inverter provides an opportunity and a new tool for distribution utilities to optimize the performance of distribution circuits, e.g. by minimizing thermal losses.

What is reactive power control of PV inverters?

Thus, the reactive power control of PV inverters could be utilized to maintain the PCC voltage within the permissible limits. If the PCC voltage drops below the lower voltage limit, the PV inverter could inject reactive power to increase the voltage.

How reactive power control of PV inverters affect PCC voltage?

According to Equations (9) and (10), the net reactive power delivered by the PV inverter and the load has a significant impact on the PCC voltage. Thus, the reactive power control of PV inverters could be utilized to maintain the PCC voltage within the permissible limits.

Can a PV inverter be controlled as a dynamic reactive power compensator?

This paper presents a novel smart inverter PV-STATCOM in which a PV inverter can be controlled as a dynamic reactive power compensator - STATCOM. The proposed PV-STATCOM can be utilized to provide voltage control during critical system needs on a 24/7 basis. In the nighttime, the entire inverter capacity is utilized for STATCOM operation.

Can a small-scale PV generator provide reactive power for voltage regulation?

An alternate solution is to place the burden of providing reactive power for voltage regulation on the individual, small- scale PV generators by using excess PV inverter capacity to generate or consume reactive power.

Are var-capable PV inverters necessary?

Although not permitted under current standards for interconnection of distributed generation, fast- reacting, VAR-capable PV inverters may provide the necessary reactive power injection or consumption to maintain voltage regulation under difficult transient conditions.