Impact of the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Generation on
Long-Term Voltage Stability of a Power Network
Enkhtsetseg Munkhchuluun
Electrical & Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering, RMIT University
Melbourne, Australia
s3554528@student.rmit.edu.au
Abstract— Power system voltage stability is of paramount
importance to maintain a secure and reliable power network with
high penetration of renewables. This paper investigates the
impact of the solar photovoltaic (PV) generation on long-term
voltage stability of a power network. Long-term voltage stability
is investigated using the Nordic-32 bus test network comprised of
dynamic models of automatic voltage regulators (AVRs),
overexcitation limiters (OELs) and on-load tap changing (OLTC)
transformers combined with static and dynamic loads. The
investigation is conducted using an aggregated solar-PV system
operating at voltage control mode under various loading
conditions. A systematic approach has been followed for solar-PV
integration. The results show that solar-PV systems enhance the
long-term voltage stability of a stressed transmission grid when
they operate under low loading conditions due to the improved
reactive power support provided by solar-PV systems.
Index Terms— Automatic voltage regulator (AVR), long-term
voltage stability, overexcitation limiter (OEL), on-load tap
changer (OLTC), solar- photovoltaic (PV) system.
I. INTRODUCTION
Worldwide capacity of solar-PV generation is increasing
rapidly, due to improved efficiency, cost-competitiveness, and
wide-scale acceptation of climate change issues as a
consequence of greenhouse gas emission from power
generation [1]-[2]. Both the large-scale and small-scale solar-
photovoltaic (PV) systems are connected increasingly to the
transmission, sub-transmission and distribution networks;
hence it is imperative to investigate the stability impact on the
network. A number of research studies have focused on the
impact of solar-PV generation on transient stability [2]-[3],
small-signal stability [4]-[7], and short & long-term voltage
stability [8]-[10]. As the existing synchronous generators are
decommissioned with the increased penetration of solar-PV
generation, it is imperative to shed light on the voltage
stability issues with high penetration of solar-PV generation.
The short-term voltage stability study presented in [8], has
reported that short-term voltage stability is severely affected
by solar-PV generation due to the fault ride-through (FRT)
issues associated with solar-PV systems. Also, this study
reports some countermeasures to overcome these drawbacks
from solar-PV generation. Research investigations presented
in [9]-[10], investigated both short- and long-term voltage
stability with the solar-PV generation in the sub-transmission
978-1-5386-4950-3/17/$31.00 ©2017 IEEE
Lasantha Meegahapola
Electrical & Biomedical Engineering
School of Engineering, RMIT University
Melbourne, Australia
lasantha.meegahapola@rmit.edu.au
network, and study concluded that solar-PV model parameters
have a greater influence on the voltage stability. Also, the
study highlighted the importance of the available reactive
power reserve in the system, but the study did not thoroughly
investigated the influence of the reactive power reserve on
long-term voltage stability. According to the German grid
code [11], solar-PV systems are required to provide 100%
reactive power (based on the rated current of the inverter) to
the grid when the point of common coupling (PCC) voltage
drops below 50%. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the
reactive power capability of solar-PV systems to ensure the
long-term voltage stability of the power system with the high
penetration of solar-PV generation. Also, the impact of solar-
PV generation on long-term voltage stability has been not
fully investigated by following a systematic approach.
Moreover, long-term voltage stability is one of the key issues
of concern after the transient period, following a large
disturbance in the network. Therefore, further studies should
be carried out to analyse the impact of solar-PVs on the long-
term voltage stability of the transmission grid by considering
their control features. In particular, it is important to consider
the effects of their operating point and control strategy.
On the other hand, power networks become more stressed in
recent years, due to the excessive growth of demand and
effective utilisation of generation facilities [13]. Long-term
voltage instability is the main concern for a stressed network,
as the power system components, such as on-load tap
changing (OLTC) transformers and overexcitation limiters
(OEL) may operate closer to their limits, and hence the power
network has an insufficient reactive power reserve to support
the network voltage during a contingency. Therefore, the
impact of large-scale solar-PV generation on a stressed power
network should be thoroughly investigated.
The objective of this paper is to investigate the impact of
solar-PV generation on long-term voltage instability. This
study was conducted using the Nordic-32 bus test network.
The rest of the paper is organised as follows. Section II
presents the long-term voltage stability phenomena and the
operating mechanisms of the main contributing devices to
long-term voltage stability. The solar-PV and test network
models are briefly described in Section III. In Section IV, the
long-term voltage stability of power grid with high penetration
of solar-PV generation on Nordic-32 bus test system is
analysed and discussed in detail. Finally, Section V delineates
conclusions and future work.
II. THE LONG-TERM VOLTAGE STABILITY
According to Cutsem et al. the long-term voltage instability
could occur in three different mechanisms in the power system
[14]. The main focus of this study is the first mechanism (i.e.
LT1- “loss of equilibrium of the long-term dynamics”
[14]), which is the most common long-term voltage instability
mechanism in the power grid.
The long-term voltage stability assessment can be conducted
using time-domain simulations while taking into account the
dynamic characteristics of each system component. The
dynamics associated with the long-term voltage instability
process could be understood by considering the dynamic test
system presented in [14]. A schematic of the test system is
shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1. Test system for long-term voltage stability analysis.
The test system is shown in Fig. 1 was modelled considering
the same modelling assumptions used in [14]. The long-term
voltage instability phenomenon was simulated by creating a
three-phase short-circuit fault in line-2, and subsequently, the
line-2 was tripped off at t = 1.15 s. This has severely
decreased the maximum power that can be delivered to the
load, and after that, voltages at bus 3 & bus 4 have decreased
to a substantially low value (see Fig. 2).
Fig. 2: Long-term voltage stability; (a) Bus-4 Voltage, (b) Bus-3
Voltage.
Afterwards, the OLTC transformer (i.e. TR-1) attempts to
restore the voltage at the load bus (i.e. bus-3) while lowering
its tap position (see Fig. 3). This has subsequently reduced the
bus-4 voltage further. In order to restore bus-4 voltage, the
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synchronous generator starts injecting more reactive power,
and ultimately the OEL has operated at t = 71 s leading to a
reduction in field current. This has led to a voltage collapse in
the entire system leading to voltage instability.
Fig. 3. Long-term voltage stability; (a) Tap position, (b) Field
current, (c) Synchronous generator reactive power.
Therefore, it is evident that reactive power capability of the
network is one of the critical parameters for long-term voltage
stability.
III. SOLAR-PV SYSTEM AND TEST NETWORK MODELS
This section explains the solar-PV system model and test
network model used in the long-term voltage stability
investigation.
A. Solar-PV System
The solar-PV generation is represented by an aggregated
solar-PV model available in the DIgSILENT Power Factory
[15]. Some modifications were made to the solar-PV model for
network integration (i.e. modifications to the solar-PV array
and static generator). A schematic of the DIgSILENT Power
Factory dynamic solar- PV model is shown in Fig. 4.
Fig. 4: The dynamic model of the solar-PV system.
The dynamic simulation model of the solar-PV system is
mainly comprised of four main blocks; the photovoltaic model
(solar-PV array), the DC busbar and capacitor model, power
controller and the static generator model. The solar-PV array is
constructed by series and parallel connected solar-PV modules
and operated at the maximum power point (MPP). The solar-
PV model is capable of responding to varying solar- irradiation
and ambient temperature conditions (this could be achieved by power during the majority of the day, (see Fig. 7), and hence
input to the ‘Solar irradiation’ and ‘Temperature’). In this solar-PV systems have a substantial reactive power capability
study, it is assumed that both temperature and solar irradiation during the majority of the time. Therefore, it is essential to
are constant during the fault condition, hence it is not necessary investigate the long-term voltage stability phenomenon at both
to build a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) system. In full load and partial load conditions.
the simulation model, active power dispatch level is set at the
static generator, and once the model is initialized, respective
solar irradiance and temperature levels are calculated and
maintained constant within the model.
The solar-PV system operated in the voltage control mode,
and it activates voltage control mode when the terminal voltage
of the solar-PV system decreases below 0.9 pu. During normal
operation, active power reference (Pref) is calculated based on
the DC-link voltage (Vdc_m), while the reactive power
reference (Qref) is generated based on the terminal voltage
(Vac_m) at the solar-PV system. By comparing the voltage
references with voltage measurements, current references are
generated at the controller and subsequently fed into the static
generator model. It must be noted that static generator model is Fig. 7. Typical solar-PVsystem generation curve.
represented as a current source model, and it has an inbuilt
current controller. A schematic of a power and current C. Test Network Model
controllers of the solar-PV model are shown in Fig. 5. In this study, the dynamic Nordic-32 bus test network has
been used for the long-term voltage stability assessment [17].
1  1  1
The Nordic-32 bus test network is comprised of 74 buses, 20
Kp 1+  Kd 1+ 
( 1 + sTr )  sT 
 p  sTd  generators, 22 loads, 102 branches, 5 series compensators, 9
shunt capacitors and 2 shunt reactors. This system consists of
four areas; North, Central, Equiv and South. All generators are
equipped with an automatic voltage regulator (AVR), power
1  1 system stabiliser (PSS) and overexcitation limiter (OEL).
 1  Kq 1+ 
KQ 1+   sT 
( 1 + sTr )  sT 
 Q
 q
Distribution transformers have on-load tap changers (OLTCs).
All loads are represented by the exponential load model. Fig. 8
Fig. 5. The solar-PV model power and current control schemes.
shows the single-line diagram of the test system. As seen from
Where, Vac_ref, Vdc_ref, Tr, KP, KQ, TP, Tq, Kd, Kq, Td, Tq Idm, the Table I, the system is heavily loaded with large transfers
Iqm, Id_ref, Iq_ref, md, and mq denote ac voltage reference, dc from North to Central area. For example, the Central region
voltage reference, low-pass filter time constant, active power has a 6190 MW active power load and has only 2850 MW
PI controller gain, reactive power PI controller gain, active active power generation, hence active power is imported to
power PI controller integration time constant, reactive power central region.
PI controller integration time constant, d-axis PI controller
gain, q-axis PI controller gain, d-axis PI controller integration 4047 4011 1011 1013

time constant, q-axis PI controller integration time constant, d- 4072

g19
4012
g9

1012 1014
g2

axis current reference, q-axis current reference, d-axis g1

g20 EQUIV g10 g3
modulation index and q-axis modulation index respectively.
1021 1022 4022 4021

B. Solar-PV System Capability Curve g4

g11

The solar-PV inverters can independently control active and 2032 2031 4031
g12
4032

NORTH
reactive power [16]. Fig 6 illustrates the capability curve of g8

the solar-PV system. 4041 4044 4042

g13 g14

4061 1043 1044

g7
4062 1041 4: 400 kV 1045 1042
2: 230 kV
g6
SOUTH g17 1: 130 kV
4063 4045 4051 4047
g18 CENTRAL g16 g15

Fig. 8. Single line diagram of the Nordic-32 bus test system.

Table I: Active power load and generation in each region.
Active power Active power load
Regions
generation (MW) (MW)
North 4628.5 1180
Fig. 6. Solar-PV system capability curve. Central 2850.0 6190
According to Fig. 6, reactive power capability would be high South 1590.0 1390
at the low active power level (i.e. low loading). Moreover, Equiv 2437.4 2300
typically solar-PV systems operate well below its rated active Total 11505.9 11060

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 IV. LONG-TERM VOLTAGE STABILITY WITH SOLAR-PV
GENERATION
A. Long term voltage stability analysis of the base grid
The long-term voltage stability analysis is conducted for the
Nordic-32 bus network by using time domain simulations and
considering the dynamics of AVR, PSS, OEL and OLTC’s. A
three-phase short-circuit fault is applied on line 4032-4044, in
close proximity to bus 4032. The fault is cleared after 5 cycles
(i.e. 0.1 s) followed by tripping-off the line 4032-4044. Fig. 9
shows the variation of system voltages during this disturbance.
Fig. 9. The transmission system voltage variation during the fault.
The initial transient caused by the short-circuit fault dies out
after 20 s, indicating that short-term equilibrium is established,
with the minimum voltage settling down to 0.96 pu. It must be
noted that, although the synchronous generator g7 OEL
activated at t = 19.86 s (see Fig. 10) while reducing its reactive
power output, it does not affect the voltage stability of the
network.
Fig. 10. The OEL operation of Nordic-32 bus test system.
After this point, the OLTC transformers start acting at t =
35 s in order to restore the load-side voltage by lowering its tap
position (see Fig. 11). This has an adverse impact on
synchronous generator terminal voltages. The terminal voltages
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are maintained almost constant as the AVR boost its field
current to increase their reactive power output. As a
consequence, additional reactive power is injected by the
synchronous generators by boosting their field current.
Subsequently, generators start hit their field current limit, and
ultimately OELs start to activate from synchronous generator
g14 at t = 48.55 s to synchronous generator g6 at t = 95.878 s
(see Fig. 10).
Activation of OELs, limit the reactive power output from
generators (see Fig. 12). Thus, the system experiences a
reactive power shortage and the voltages further decrease.
Eventually the voltage of bus 1041 collapse to a very low value
of 0.72 pu.
Fig. 11. The transformer tap changer actions during the fault.
Fig. 12. Reactive power of generators in Nordic-32 bus system.
B. Long Term Voltage Stability Analysis with Solar-PV
To investigate the impact on long-term voltage stability with
solar-PV generation, five heavily stressed synchronous
generators (e.g. g6, g7, g14, g15 and g16) in the test system
were methodically replaced by aggregated solar-PV models.
When replacing the synchronous generators by solar-PV
generators, the following conditions were maintained constant
to make an accurate judgment on long-term voltage stability
impact with solar-PV generation.
1) Replace the synchronous generators with an aggregated According to Table III when the synchronous generator g7 is
solar-PV system while maintaining same MVA capacity. replaced by the solar-PV generation, reactive power reserve
2) Same steady-state active and reactive power levels were has improved by 186 MVAr, 202 MVAr and 215 MVAr for
maintained for the aggregated solar-PV system. 70%, 50% and 25% solar-PV loading levels respectively.
In addition, different loading levels (i.e. 70%, 50% and 25%) Subsequently, when the synchronous generator g7 is replaced
were considered for each solar-PV integration scenario in this by solar-PV and loaded with 70%, the critical bus voltage
study. Table II illustrates the critical voltage of bus 1041 for improved to 0.74 pu, while at 50% loading level it has
different solar-PV integration scenarios and their loading improved to 0.76 pu. Fig. 13 illustrates the change in the
conditions when the same disturbance (i.e. three-phase short- reactive power output of solar-PV systems (at g16) and
circuit at line 4032-4044) is applied in the Nordic-32 bus test synchronous generator-g16.
system. According to Fig. 13, at t = 180 s, the solar-PV system has
Table II: Critical bus voltage for various scenarios. 577 MVAr reactive power capability at 25% loading level,
Penetra. Critical bus voltage at whereas synchronous generator’s reactive power output was
Scen. Replaced Syn.
No Generators
Level different Loading levels (pu) 344 MVAr. Thus, the partially loaded solar-PV generation
70% 50% 25% (25% loading level), provides additional 233 MVAr to the
1 g7 2% 0.74 0.76 0.77
2 g6 3% 0.73 0.74 0.74
system. As a result, the critical bus voltage is increased from
3 g14 5% 0.73 0.74 0.75 0.72 pu to 0.756 pu (see Fig 14), even though it is not sufficient
4 g16 5% 0.72 0.75 0.76 to arrest the voltage collapse in the network.
5 g15 9% 0.72 0.74 0.74
6 g15,g16 14% 0.70 0.75 0.76
7 g14,g15,g16 20% 0.65 0.77 0.78
8 g6,g14,g15,g16 23% 0.65 0.77 0.78
9 g6,g7,g14,g15,g16 25% 0.63 0.79 0.80

According to Table II, the critical voltage level at bus 1041

has substantially improved with the increased solar-PV
penetration in the system, mainly for the low loading
scenarios. For example, at 25% solar-PV penetration (i.e.
scenario 9), when the solar-PV systems are 25% loaded, the
critical voltage has improved to 0.80 pu from the base case
critical voltage of 0.72 pu. This improvement could be
attributed to the increased reactive power reserve in the
network during the partially loaded scenario. Table III, which
represents the reactive power capability improvement in the
system when the synchronous generators are replaced by
unloaded PV system.
Table III: The improvement of reactive power capability.
Fig. 14. Critical bus (bus 1041) voltage improvement.
Reactive power capability (MVar)
Penetration With PV Furthermore, following the initial disturbance, the reactive
No Scenarios Without
level PV loading level
PV
70% 50% 25%
power output of solar-PV is lower than a synchronous
1 g7 2% 69 186 202 215 generator. Once a large voltage drop occurs in the network,
2 g6 3% 169 174 200 256 solar-PV systems increase their reactive power output
3 g 14 5% 289 418 552 715 depending on their loading level at t = 60 s (see Fig. 13).
4 g 16 5% 345 464 504 577 Although the synchronous generator also boosts its reactive
5 g 15 9% 527 773 856 981 power output, the operation of the OEL at t = 80 s substantially
decreases the reactive power output of the synchronous
generator and ultimately results in a voltage collapse.

V. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK

Fig. 13. Comparison of the reactive power output of the partially
loaded solar-PV generation and synchronous generator g16.
This study investigated the impact of solar-PV generation on
power system long-term voltage stability by following a
methodical approach for solar-PV integration into the test
network. The Nordic-32 bus test network was used for the
study, and disturbances were applied at critical locations in the
network. An aggregated solar-PV model was utilised for the
solar-PV integration, and the steady-state system parameters
are maintained constant when replacing existing synchronous
generation by solar-PV generation.
The long-term voltage stability analysis results indicated
that the long-term voltage stability has clearly improved when
the OEL activated synchronous generators are replaced by
partially solar-PV systems. Thus, the results of this work
highlight the importance of effective utilisation of installed

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solar-PV generation for power system stability improvement.
However, it must be noted that the distributed solar-PV
systems would not act in a similar manner as the aggregated
solar-PV model used in this study, and hence further studies
are required to accurately quantify the impact of solar-PV
generation on long-term voltage stability.
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