Smart Solar PV Inverters with Advanced Grid Support Functionalities. Rajiv K. Varma

2009, a novel patented control paradigm of solar PV farms was developed by this book’s author, whereby solar PV farms can be operated in nighttime as a STATCOM with full inverter capacity and during daytime with inverter capacity remaining after active power generation, for providing various grid support functions [35, 92, 97]. This new control of solar PV system as STATCOM was named PV‐STATCOM [100]. In 2013, an enhanced patented control was developed whereby solar PV farms can operate as a STATCOM with full inverter capacity at any time in the day during periods of system need. Different applications of PV‐STATCOM for providing benefits to transmission and distribution systems, including its first‐in Canada field demonstration in 2016, are described in subsequent chapters.

1.4 Conclusions

      This chapter illustrates the concepts of control of reactive power and active power and their corresponding impacts on the grid. This forms the basis of the different smart inverter functions from solar PV inverters, which will be described in the book. The various issues and challenges of high penetration of solar PV systems both in distribution and bulk power systems, are described. Finally, the early‐stage evolution of smart inverter technology is presented.

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