Optimal Integration of Photovoltaic Systems in Distribution Networks from a Technical, Financial, and Environmental Perspective

Abstract

Due to the increasing demand for electricity around the world, different technologies have been developed to ensure the sustainability of each and every process involved in its production, transmission, and consumption. In addition to ensuring energy sustainability, these technologies seek to improve some of the characteristics of power systems and, in doing so, make them efficient from a financial, technical, and environmental perspective. In particular, solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is one of the power generation technologies that has had the most influence and development in recent years due to its easy implementation and low maintenance costs. Additionally, since PV systems can be located close to the load, power losses during distribution and transmission can be significantly reduced. However, in order to maximize the financial, technical, and environmental variables involved in the operation of an electrical system, a PV power generation project must guarantee the proper location and sizing of the generation sources. In the specialized literature, different studies have employed mathematical methods to determine the optimal location and size of generation sources. These methods model the operation of electrical systems and provide potential analysis scenarios following the deployment of solar PV units. The majority of such studies, however, do not assess the quality and repeatability of the solutions in short processing times. In light of this, the purpose of this study is to review the literature and contributions made in the field.