Impact of High PV Penetration on Regional Power Grids

TL;DR

This paper investigates how high regional photovoltaic (PV) penetration affects local power grid stability, focusing on frequency response metrics and grid code compliance through simulation at various PV levels.

Contribution

It provides a detailed simulation-based analysis of high PV penetration impacts on regional frequency stability and grid code adherence, highlighting local effects beyond interconnection-wide assessments.

Findings

High PV penetration can cause frequency response degradation in specific regions.

Regional RoCoF and frequency nadir are significantly affected at 100% PV levels.

Grid code compliance may be challenged under high PV penetration scenarios.

Abstract

Due to the high solar irradiance or energy price, certain regions in the U.S. may reach 100% PV penetration and experience degradation of frequency response greater than the interconnection as a whole. Therefore, in this section, the 100% PV penetration region in each interconnection is simulated to study the local high PV penetration effects. The study was performed by quantifying RoCoF, frequency nadir, and settling frequency at different regional PV penetration levels. The impact of high regional PV penetration on the compliance of grid code on frequency response is also studied.