TITLE:
Power Quality Issues Concerning Photovoltaic Generation and Electrical Vehicle Loads in Distribution Grids
AUTHORS:
Jaan Niitsoo, Paul Taklaja, Ivo Palu, Joni Klüss
KEYWORDS:
Current Measurement, Distributed Generation, Electric Vehicles, Load Modelling, Photo Voltaic, Power Quality, Power System Harmonics
JOURNAL NAME:
Smart Grid and Renewable Energy,
Vol.6 No.6,
June
29,
2015
ABSTRACT: The high utilization level of renewable generation including residential photovoltaic (PV) systems
together with the uncontrolled charging of electric vehicles (EVs) can have a significant impact on
load characteristics in distribution networks. Harmonic content of PV generation, EV charging
loads, and their influence on power quality indicators in residential distribution networks are
discussed in this paper. For investigating likely power quality scenarios, PV generation and EV
charging measurement results including current harmonic amplitude and phase angle values are
used and compared with present load characteristics. Different modelling scenarios are analysed
and a simplified model of harmonics in PVs and EVs is offered. The results of the study show moderate
additional harmonic distortion in residential load current and voltage distortion at the substation’s
busbar when PV generation and EV loading are added. The scenarios presented in this
paper can be further used for modelling the actual harmonic loads of the PVs and EVs in distribution
networks.