ECONOMICAL AND TECHNICAL IMPACTS OF GRID-CONNECTED PV SYSTEMS ON THE 33-KV GRID OPERATION IN OMAN

In this study, a methodology to assess the technical and economical benefits of grid tied solar photovoltaic (PV) power into the Sohar 33-kV grid is presented. The methodology consists of assessing the PV power resources in the area and finding the most appropriate substation at which the PV system is to be connected to the grid. Based on the present study, it was found that Sohar peak load and PV peak power output do not match in cool seasons. However, they match better in summer seasons during which a predominant high air conditioning load is present. The second finding was that six feeders are responsible for 67 % of the power losses at peak load. The third finding is that connecting the PV system at the studied six substations resulted in an overall reduction of technical losses between 0.30 to 1.96 percent. Fourth, the substations with the highest load and longest feeders were found to be good candidates to host the PV facility. Two such substations are Sohar and Saham