Model-free Load Control for High Penetration of Solar Photovoltaic Generation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a model-free control method for local PV generation utilization by building HVAC systems, aiming to enhance solar penetration, reduce grid impact, and eliminate the need for detailed building models.

Contribution

The proposed model-free control approach enables local PV consumption without requiring precise building models, improving solar integration and grid stability.

Findings

Significant PV generation can be locally consumed by HVAC units.

The control approach maintains occupant comfort and HVAC constraints.

Reduces voltage variations and two-way power flow.

Abstract

This paper presents a new model-free control (MFC) mechanism that enables the local distribution level circuit consumption of the photovoltaic (PV) generation by local building loads, in particular, distributed heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units. The local consumption of PV generation will help minimize the impact of PV generation on the distribution grid, reduce the required battery storage capacity for PV penetration, and increase solar PV generation penetration levels. The proposed MFC approach with its corresponding intelligent controllers does not require any precise model for buildings, where a reliable modeling is a demanding task. Even when assuming the availability of a good model, the various building architectures would compromise the performance objectives of any model-based control strategy. The objective is to consume most of the PV generation locally while maintaining occupants comfort and physical constraints of HVAC units. That is, by enabling proper scheduling of responsive loads temporally and spatially to minimize the difference between demand and PV production, it would be possible to reduce voltage variations and two-way power flow. Computer simulations show promising results where a significant proportion of the PV generation can be consumed by building HVAC units with the help of intelligent control.