Integration of PV into the energy system: Challenges and measures for generation and load management

In the foreseeable future, sustainable electrical energy systems should be capable to handle up to 100% of renewable energy share in the grid. Due to the recent price drops, PV will play a major role in the global renewable energy portfolio. The technical implications of this development (also referred to as “energy transition” in Germany) in all areas of electricity supply (generation, transmission, distribution, operation management) are manifold and consequently lead to a new system design. For the effective integration of PV the major challenges are volatile generation given by sun´s position and actual weather conditions, as well as load level. On one hand, the article addresses the generation side by adapting PV power plants to load requirements (e.g., via azimuth and tilt angle modification to achieve peak power output during periods of high demand, via thermal conditioning of PV modules, via smart site selection or via a combination of complementary energy sources) and on the other hand the article discusses several possibilities of load management (e.g. load shifting, inducements, load adaptation, appropriate market design).