Distributed Photovoltaic Generation and Impact on Voltage Profiles of Distribution Feeders

Distributed Photovoltaic applications bring considerable benefits to the distribution network, especially in regions with high irradiation levels. This work contributes to the efforts of adapting Distributed Photovoltaic applications in Iraq, as it has high irradiation levels. The development of a Photovoltaic physical model for Distributed Photovoltaic installations under actual weather conditions has been presented. Additionally, the impact of Distributed Photovoltaic installations connected at downstream points of distribution feeders on the voltage profile along those feeders has been discussed. Based on that, a suitable procedure to assess this impact has been developed under four different scenarios. A case study of the existing 11 kV feeder in Baghdad has been used to apply the developed procedure by considering different scenarios of Distributed Photovoltaic integration. The case study concluded no over-voltage issues along the feeder, even with the extreme conditions of applied scenarios, related to voltage level at the feeder head, capacity and location of the Distributed Photovoltaic plant, and load/ Distributed Photovoltaic profiles of summer and winter.