Harmonic effects caused by large scale PV installations in LV network

By M C Benhabib et al

In the next decade the amount of decentralized generators will significantly increase in the distribution networks. Among the sustainable energy sources, the research on photovoltaic generators has received much attention, especially the study of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems, which has potential of becoming a significant market. Measurements in a bungalow park in the Netherland with a high penetration of PV have shown a lot of harmonic distortions at the point of coupling. There harmonics are concerning resonances and the interaction of current harmonics generated by the inverters and the voltage harmonics coming from the grid.

This paper, will study the influence of the current harmonics generated by photovoltaic systems connected to the low voltage network and the interaction with other non-linear loads and the network voltage. Basis for this simulation is a neighborhood in the Netherlands with around 96 houses. Simulations will show the effect of these harmonic currents generated by big amount of photovoltaic systems and common electronic loads and the interaction between them.