SMART VAR Generator to Manage Grid Voltage Stability issue of Low Frequency Switching Photovoltaic Inverters

Abstract: Solar power, clean and abundant, is considered as a vital contributor in the effort of transforming world energy-mix to pollution-free and natural-regenerative sources.   The solar micro inverters have gained greater visibility during the past several years due to their higher efficiency, greater performances, longer life expectancy and many other benefits. But, integrating small scale [<15kW] renewable energy sources, especially the low frequency switching solar inverters to the low voltage distribution grid has its own challenges due to their inability to generate reactive power to maintain the static voltage stability of the grid. Higher level of solar penetration has identified as a potential cause of low voltage grid instability due to lack of reactive power feeding and their tendency to keep on increasing the voltage higher than grid at the point of common connection [PCC] in order to inject the current to the grid. The studies and experience in voltage stability issues has resulted in introducing many new grid regulations to manage the grid voltage stability throughout the world. The new regulation, VDE-AR-N-4105-2011 is a German grid regulation standard specifically focuses on the low voltage grid connected power generators. This regulation has addressed the reactive power requirements in terms of power factor and supply management to maintain the grid static voltage variation less than 3% at the PCC, when connecting any type of distributed power generators to the low voltage network. This report discuss about the voltage stability issues related to low frequency switching inverters and present a solution to comply with low voltage grid regulation - VDE-AR-N-4105-2011; a SmartVar Generator concept, theory, design and functionality.