Abstract

The world is increasingly shifting towards cleaner renewable energy sources due to
the environmental impact of conventional energy. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology holds immense promise as a future energy source, particularly through
small-scale rooftop PV systems that can meet consumer demand and even generate surplus energy for additional income. However, integrating these systems
into traditional distribution networks presents challenges in power quality. In networks with significant PV penetration, issues like local voltage rise and Reverse
Power Flow (RPF) are becoming major concerns. India has varying maximum
allowable PV capacity from state to state, ranging from 50% to 100%. This article focuses on analyzing the impact of PV system on voltage rise, using the IEEE
906 bus European LV distribution network as a case study. The study considers
critical parameters such as the magnitude and duration of voltage rise, as well
as specific locations where voltage rise issues arise. Solutions to mitigate voltage
rise problems in PV-penetrated distribution networks are generalized to provide
insights into the most preferable strategies for addressing voltage rise issue along
with various power quality issues. Furthermore, to tackle the voltage rise problem, the integration of Volt/VAR control strategies is explored and evaluated for
effectiveness using co-simulation techniques involving MATLAB and OpenDSS.

Key words: Rooftop PV Generation, Power Quality, Distribution Network, Voltage Rise, Volt/VAR