A practical case of determining the maximum allowed PV plant connection power using different reactive power control concepts

A growing number of distributed generators (DG) in the utility networks is causing more and more problems related to voltage variations in the network and reactive power drawn from the HV network. The so called "traditional" ways of connecting and operating DGs which are prescribed in the national rules of some European countries or in the EN standards are simply not good enough for overcrowded distribution networks. Fixed set reactive power of the DGs or even setting of the DG power factor to 1 are not the solutions to the mentioned problems. In order to achieve a good solution, DG must be able to regulate its reactive power in such a way to help maintain the allowed voltage level in the network at the minimum reactive power drawn from the HV network. The simulation of a practical case of connection of a photovoltaic power plant is made using different reactive power regulation techniques. Network hosting capacity is given for different reactive power regulation concepts.