Reactive Power Flows of Photovoltaic Inverters with a Power Factor Requirement of One

The generated power of photovoltaic (PV) systems represents a growing part of the electrical energy supply in Germany. At the beginning of 2013, more than 32 GW have been installed [BUR-13]. This leads to new challenges to ensure the required grid stability. Due to the rapid extension of PV systems, primarily in low voltage grids, the state of the grid is increasingly unknown. This paper discusses reactive power flows due to PV inverter systems. The focus hereby is on the power factor (PF) requirement of one. Hence PV inverters should feed only active and no reactive power into the grid. Vari-ous observations in low voltage grids show a dispersion of the active and apparent power feed in and thus a reactive power flow. The direction and extend of these reactive power flows are analysed within this paper.     «

The generated power of photovoltaic (PV) systems represents a growing part of the electrical energy supply in Germany. At the beginning of 2013, more than 32 GW have been installed [BUR-13]. This leads to new challenges to ensure the required grid stability. Due to the rapid extension of PV systems, primarily in low voltage grids, the state of the grid is increasingly unknown. This paper discusses reactive power flows due to PV inverter systems. The focus hereby is on the power factor (PF) requi...     »