Solar Energy Integration and Potential Challenges in Distribution Network: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation has emerged as a viable option among all other available energy options. The solar energy is unpredictable and variable in nature. Moreover, the distribution grids are not designed to accommodate high penetration of these sources. Therefore, such penetration poses the technical challenge like reverse power flow, voltage variation, harmonic distortion, poor power quality, malfunctioning of protective devices, overloading and underloading of feeders. Such challenges need to be addressed when solar PVs are added to the conventional grid system. The grid must have capacity to withstand and simultaneously take the corrective action against these occurrences. Therefore, there is a serious need to study these issues and further to develop control strategies to eliminate them. This paper presents various issues and challenges associated with high level PV integration in the distribution network and discussed the remedies to obtain the clean power supply.