The impact of dispersed PV generation on ramp rate requirements

PV generation variability and uncertainty significantly influence operation of the power systems with high penetration of PV sources. The potential impact of distributed PV generation on ramp rate requirements in the IEEE 24-bus system is evaluated in this paper. PV generation and load are, here, probabilistically modeled using actual data and curve fitting approach. Probabilistic unit commitment (UC) based on unit de-commitment method combined with two point estimate method (2-PEM) is used to determine the ramp rate required to compensate for the PV power fluctuations. The proposed method considers stochastic factors and their effects on the dispatch results. Two scenarios are studied to evaluate the dispersed PV generation and its potential to reduce the ramp rate requirement of conventional generators. Ramping requirements of the system are calculated for 6 hours ahead scheduling period and different PV penetration levels, which lend the authors a hand in a conclusion concerning the applicability and efficiency of the proposed method.