Solar Photovoltaic Systems Integration

光伏系统（PV）可以为电网提供无碳电力，是最有前途的可再生能源技术之一。从小型屋顶系统到大型露天电站，光伏系统可以是任何规模的，它也非常适合为偏远地区供电，比如发展中国家的农村，否则这些地区就无法获得能源。尽管去年太阳能是世界上最便宜的发电技术，但在已经容纳大量太阳能的电力系统中进一步部署它已经开始面临障碍。太阳能技术的本质给电网带来了平衡、稳定和控制方面的各种挑战。由于电力在白天是可变的（随着太阳的变化而变化），而间歇性的（受到云层的严重影响），这意味着其他电源需要在线来弥补缺口。此外，在过去只有负荷的地方，太阳能系统被嵌入到当地的配电网中；这就导致了电网中电能的双向流动，电网某些部分的电压上升，以及故障时对电网的保护提出了挑战。该项目将探索这些挑战，并旨在提出建议，以便电网能够接受更多的太阳能发电，并特别强调发展中国家。它将研究如何使太阳能光伏系统更加“电网友好”，以便更容易适应，以及如何提高太阳能独立微电网的可靠性和可用性。研究的核心部分将研究光伏系统如何在干扰（例如故障，发电损失）期间通过提供“辅助服务”来支持电力系统，以及不同的运行模式“电网形成”和“电网跟随”如何影响这种电网友好性。探讨的主题还包括光伏系统通过注入/消耗无功功率来支持电网电压，以及在停电情况下协助电力系统恢复的黑启动能力。设想的研究将跨越电力系统、电力电子、控制系统和数据科学等学科。该项目的核心将使用MATLAB和Python等计算平台进行，随后可能会进行有限的原型实验验证。该学生将与印度的研究和工业联系人一起工作，对发展中国家的太阳能集成挑战有一个现实的看法，并提出实际和有影响力的解决方案。该项目与EPSRC的“能源”职权范围内的“太阳能技术”和“能源网络”领域密切相关。其目标是为光伏系统如何成为电网不可或缺的电源提供一种新的选择，以促进电力系统的绿色转型和能源部门的脱碳。

Photovoltaic systems (PV) can support the electricity network with carbon-free power, being among the most promising renewable energy technologies. A PV system can be literally of any size, from small rooftop systems to large open-field plants, being also ideal to power isolated areas, such as rural villages in developing countries, that otherwise would not have energy access. Although last year solar was the cheapest generation technology worldwide, it has started facing barriers in further deployment in power systems that accommodate already a lot of solar energy. The very nature of the solar technology gives rise to various challenges in the electric grid in terms of balancing, stability and control. Being variable during the day - it changes with the sun - and intermittent - severely affected by clouds passing by - means that other power sources need to be online to cover the gap. Furthermore, solar systems are embedded locally into the distribution network in places where used to have only load; this leads to bidirectional power flows in the network, voltage rise is certain parts of the grid, as well as challenges in the protection of the network during faults.This project will explore these challenges and aim to come up with suggestions so that the electric grid can accept more solar generation, with a special emphasis on developing countries. It will look into ways to make the solar PV systems more "grid-friendly" so that they will more easily accommodatable, as well as into how to increase the reliability and availability of solar-power standalone microgrids. Core part of the research will investigate how the PV system can support the power system by providing "ancillary services" during disturbances (e.g. faults, loss of generation), and how the different operating modes "grid-forming" and "grid-following" can affect this grid-friendliness. Topics to be explored are also grid voltage support by the PV system by injecting/consuming reactive power and black-start capability to assist with the power system restoration in the event of a blackout. The envisioned research will span over the disciplines of power systems, power electronics, control systems and data science.The core of the project will be carried out using computational platforms, such as MATLAB and Python, possibly followed by limited experimental validation with prototypes. The student will work together with research and industrial contacts in India to get a realistic view of the solar integration challenges in developing countries and come up with practical and impactful solutions. This project is strongly related to the areas of "Solar technology" and "Energy Network" of the "Energy" EPSRC remit. The ambition is to provide a fresh alternative on how the PV system can be an integral power of the electric grid, in order to contribute to the envisioned green transformation of the power system and decarbonization of the energy sector.