Monitoring and controlling the grid integration of photovoltaic (PV) generation

由于基础设施老化和满足全球环境标准，加拿大需要在2030年之前重建70%的发电能力，这迫使我们使用更多的可再生能源，如风能和光伏（PV）。在风能和光伏中，由于材料科学的进步和多种安装选择，光伏具有最有希望的未来。这就是为什么在加拿大和世界范围内，通过上网电价（FIT）计划增加和鼓励光伏装置，以将更多的可再生能源纳入能源结构。然而，由于现有的传统电网基础设施不允许双向能量流动，这些努力正变得毫无结果。这就是为什么如果光伏峰值发电容量超过该社区电网最大容量的某个百分比（例如，安大略省的7%），当地配电公司（ldc）就会限制在该社区安装光伏。这一限制大大减少了光伏发电的使用，也是将可再生能源发电纳入能源结构的最大障碍。然而，由于季节性和日常天气条件，白天太阳的运动以及安装效率低下（无法使用最佳角度和部分阴影），pv在大多数时间都没有达到其峰值发电能力。这就是为什么利用光伏发电的峰值发电能力不是一个可靠和有效的措施，但最不发达国家在发放许可证时没有其他选择。该项目将在光伏安装和最不发达国家控制中心之间建立必要的基础设施和有效的沟通渠道。通过这种通信通道，最不发达国家可以监控光伏发电的发电能力，在不失去其调节能力和短路保护的情况下，启用和禁用安全能量流向电网。所有这些都将增加可再生能源的能源发电量。这种通信通道的另一个优点是消除孤岛，以保护维修人员的安全，或允许控制孤岛在附近维持电力。这样的通信通道是提供智能电网功能以更好地优化和运行的必要条件。

Canada needs to rebuild 70% electricity generation capacity by 2030 due to aging infrastructure and meeting the global environmental standards, which force us to use more renewable energy sources such as wind and photovoltaic (PV). Among wind and PV, PV has the most promising future due to advancements in material science and versatile installation options. That is why PV installations are increasing and encouraged in Canada and worldwide with feed-in tariff (FIT) programs to include more renewable energy sources in the energy mix. However, these efforts are becoming fruitless because of the existing legacy grid infrastructure, which was not designed to allow bi-directional energy flow. That is why local distribution companies (LDCs) restrict PV installations in a neighborhood if the PV's peak generation capacity exceeds some percentage of the maximum capacity of the grid in that neighborhood (e.g., 7% in Ontario). This limitation significantly reduces the inclusion of the PV generation and the biggest obstacle in incorporating renewable generation in to the energy mix. However, PVs are not operating at their peak generation capacity most of the time because of seasonal and daily weather conditions, sun's movement during the day, and installation inefficiencies (not able to use optimum angle and partial shadowing.). That is why using peak generation capacity of PVs is not a reliable and effective measure but there is no alternative for LDCs while issuing permits. This projects will build necessary infrastructure and effective communication channel between PV installation and the LDCs control center. With such communication channel, LDCs can monitor the generation capacity of the PVs, and enable and disable safe energy flow to the grid without losing their regulation capacity, and short circuit protection. All of these will increase renewable energy sources to the energy generation. Another advantage of such communication channel is to eliminate islanding to protect safety of maintenance crew or allow controlled islanding to maintain power in the neighborhood. Such communication channel is essential in providing smart grid features for better optimization and operation.