Optimal PV system placement in a distribution network on the basis of daily power consumption and production fluctuation

For the last five years the Croatian power system has been witnessing a sudden increase in penetration of renewable electrical energy sources. Over the last few decades a combination of some requests has given rise to a greater interest in renewable electrical energy sources worldwide. Some of the afore-mentioned requests are reduction in CO₂ emission, energy efficiency programs, deregulation and opening of electricity sector and markets, diversification of energy sources and increased demands for self-sustainability of national power systems. By acquiring experience with practical examples of renewable sources´ integration in distribution networks around the world, a set of new problems have arisen which further complicates distribution network planning and operation. The main problem is the mass integration of non-regulated renewable energy sources in passive designed distribution networks. In this paper the optimal placement of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant in distribution network is discussed with a goal of minimizing active and reactive power losses. PV system and loads are modeled with a characteristic daily electric production/consumption curves with discrete hour intervals, which expands the solution space, but in the same time presents solutions more precisely in accordance to the daily power fluctuations. The source code of the program is realized in Matlab programming environment.