Towards prediction of photovoltaic power quality

The increased penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) into the energy mix of many developed nations is important for reduction of our dependence on fossil fuels and for mitigating the contribution of power generation to climate change. However, it also brings new challenges associated with RES intermittency and the limited predictability of their availability. In addition, energy from many types of RES has high variability that can negatively affect the quality of power in the grid they are connected to. To ensure that power quality remains within acceptable limits, operational thresholds of important power quality parameters are specified by many national and international regulatory bodies. Examples of such parameters include system voltage, frequency, power factor, harmonic distortion, voltage unbalance and long and short-term flicker. Although devices that allow control of these parameters exist, the magnitude and time of their response may not be sufficient for many common operational conditions. In this contribution, we propose to enhance the capability of such devices through prediction of quality parameters of power produced by photovoltaic power plants.