Grid Integration of Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Majid Jamil, M Rizwan, D P Kothari

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781351652414
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Energy

This book covers the various aspects of solar photovoltaic systems including measurement of solar irradiance, solar photovoltaic modules, arrays with MATLAB implementation, recent MPPT techniques, latest literature of converter design (with MATLAB Simulink models), energy storage for PV applications, balance of systems, grid integration of PV systems, PV system protection, economics of grid connected PV system and system yield performance using PV system. Challenges, issues and solutions related to grid integration of solar photovoltaic systems are also be dealt with.

1

Exposure to Renewable Energy Sources

1.1 Conventional Energy Sources

To consider a country a developed nation, the per capita energy consumption needs to be considered, which is an important key factor. The maximum generation of energy depends on the needs of a country, and this need can only be fulfilled when everyone gets a sufficient amount of energy in the form of electricity, transport, agriculture etc. In order to satisfy these requirements, today the world is mainly dependent on conventional resources such as coal, oil, natural gas, etc. India imports about 75% crude oil at present, and a steep increase in this figure is expected in the near future because of India’s growing economy and rapid development. 18% of the world’s population resides in India, but uses only 6% of world’s primary energy in spite of being the third largest in power generation. Nearly 240 million people live in India without electricity. Developing countries like India and China face the problem of increasing per capita electricity consumption, and for that they will have to increase electricity generation. They still need to provide electricity to the entire population. Developed countries like the United States and European countries will need to produce more electricity if they want to maintain their current quality of life.

Most electricity is produced through the combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas. The combustion of these fossil fuels increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and adds several other polluting gases. Carbon dioxide is a strong greenhouse gas responsible for rising global temperatures. The second aspect of using fossil fuels is that their proven reserves are not going to last very long, even for a century, as a power generating source. This calls for finding an alternative source for producing electricity.

The planning of electricity production is influenced by two major factors. One important factor is the basic raw material, which could be any of the fossil fuels, and all three of them are known to increase global warming and environmental pollution. Second are the matters that have relevance to the economics of electrical power. There are huge power losses in terms of generation, transmission, and distribution. It is a challenging task to reduce the losses or identify an alternative method like a smart grid, micro grid, etc., so that the losses may be reduced and the cost may also come down. People want access to electricity but do not want to increase global warming, and both the general public and those who plan and establish the power plants are convinced that fossil fuels are responsible to a very great extent for the addition of greenhouse gases. In addition, the poisonous gases and particulate matter they add to the atmosphere are a proven danger to the respiratory systems of human and animals, as well as damaging to plants. To avoid global warming and the deleterious effects of these pollutants, efforts have been directed toward nonconventional or renewable energy sources (RES), but they have proved to be uneconomical as of now.

1.1.1 Energy Resources and Their Potential

1.1.1.1 Oil

The world has been divided into three groups based on oil and its use. Some countries are rich in oil, and another group is highly industrialized with a rich agriculture. The representatives of the first group are mainly the Middle Eastern or Arabian countries. The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) represents the other group. There is a third group, which neither has oil nor is developed to the extent of the OECD group. The question has always been lurking if the oil-producing countries will keep on supplying oil to the world until the supply runs dry or they decide that they should keep the oil for their own use or sell to only those countries that approve their policies.

The present situation of supplying oil to the developed countries started because the Arab countries were resource poor in terms of food. They got food in return for oil—not as a barter agreement but as a gesture. Gradually the Arab countries increased their economic strength and started other businesses and started asserting their preferences in the politics of the world. A kind of hidden difference has arisen between the developed countries and the Arabs. The present crisis of terrorism and American actions in the Middle East are exposing the differences even further, and as the oil taps are exhausted, the differences will become more apparent. In the early days, Arabs were happy to get food in return for oil, and this tended to maintain a balance. The balance has been tilted in favor of oil suppliers, however, as can be seen, between 1950 and 1973 the exchange rate between food and oil was one bushel of food for one barrel of crude oil. This increased in accordance with exchange rates: two bushels per barrel in 1974, five bushels per barrel between 1975 and 1998, six bushels in 1999, and now ten bushels or more per barrel of crude oil. It is, of course, a fact that oil is also needed for agriculture and transport of food, but the Arab countries have found food suppliers outside of the OECD. They are also interested in building seawater greenhouses. This technology, although new and untried, offers cheap desalination and efficient food production. Successful implementation of this technology will bring Arab countries closer to self-sufficiency and away from the OECD. This is going to be a hallmark in terms of politics if this occurs.

1.1.1.2 Natural Gas

The technologies for natural gas-fired electricity generation have improved during the last decade and a half. It is expected that the use of natural gas in electricity production will increase by 87% by 2020. The most reliable estimates suggest that in the developed countries natural gas will support 30% of electricity generation, whereas the developing countries will derive 17% of their electricity from natural gas. Use of natural gas in electricity generation in combined-cycle gas turbines has been developed technically, and many countries are intent on using it. Further, the gas produces less carbon dioxide than both coal and oil while producing the same amount of electricity. It is cleaner fuel and is being used for public transport, such as in Delhi, for the specific purpose of keeping the environment clean.

The consumption of gas for electricity is already high in countries of the former Soviet Union with almost 33% of consumption occurring in that region. By 2025 it is expected that up to 63% of electricity will be generated from gas in the countries of the former Soviet Union. The East European countries were producing 9% of their electricity from gas in 2001, and they expect to import more gas from Russia to increase electricity generation up to 50%.

Western Europe consumed 413 billion cubic meters of gas for electricity generation in 2000 and is likely to increase it to 670 billion cubic meters by 2025. With a decreasing share of nuclear energy, the region is likely to have the gas share in electricity generation increase from 17% in 2001 to 38% in 2025. Western European countries have experienced fluctuating natural gas use, starting in 1973 when the oil crisis took place. In 1975 the Eu...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• About the Author
• Acknowledgment
• 1. Exposure to Renewable Energy Sources
• 2. Electrical Fundamentals
• 3. Measurement and Estimation of Solar Irradiance
• 4. Solar Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, and Arrays
• 5. Maximum Power Point Tracking Techniques and Charge Controllers
• 6. Converter Design
• 7. Energy Storage for PV Applications
• 8. Mounting Structure
• 9. Balance of Systems
• 10. Site Selection and Assessment
• 11. Grid Integration of PV Systems
• 12. PV System Protection
• 13. Economics of Grid-Connected PV Systems
• 14. System Yield and Performance
• 15. Design of Transformers, Inductors, and Filters for PV Applications
• Bibliography
• Index