Performance Assessment of a Real PV System Connected to a Low-Voltage Grid

Abstract

The generation of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy is increasing continuously because it is renewable, unlimited, and clean energy. In the past, generation systems depended on non-renewable sources such as oil, coal, and gas. Therefore, this paper assesses the performance of a 51 kW PV solar power plant connected to a low-voltage grid to feed an administrative building in the 6th of October City, Egypt. The performance analysis of the considered grid-connected PV system is carried out using power system simulator for Engineering (PSS/E) software. Where the PSS/E program, monitors and uses the power analyzer that displays the parameters and measures some parameters such as current, voltage, total power, power factor, frequency, and current and voltage harmonics, the used inverter from the type of grid inverter for the considered system. The results conclude that when the maximum solar radiation is reached, the maximum current can be obtained from the solar panels, thus obtaining the maximum power and power factor. Decreasing total voltage harmonic distortion, a current harmonic distortion within permissible limits using active harmonic distortion because this type is fast inprocessing upto 300 microseconds. The connection between so larstation sand the national grid makes the system more efficient.