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Optimal Utilization of Photovoltaic (PV) Solar and Wind Farms

Wind farm Background

The Indian wind energy installed capacity was 11,806 MW in 2010, and is
expected to grow 33.5% annually. The Indian photo-voltaic market had 136
MW installed capacity in 2008, and is expected to increase to 2000 MW
between 2009 & 2012, largely because of India’s ambitious “Power for All by
2012” program. However the foremost challenge to realizing potential growth
is the high cost of installation of grid connected solar photo-voltaic (PV) &
wind farms, specifically the high transmission and distributions (T&D) costs.
A major distribution challenge contributing to high T&D costs is regulating the
feeder voltage. When energy generation exceeds the load, the feeder
voltage may exceed the rated limits, and utilities incur expensive penalties,
thereby limiting the integration of distributed generators in the grid.
Traditionally, voltage regulation has been accomplished through the use of
expensive devices such as static VAR compensators (SVC) or static
synchronous compensator (STATCOM), which costs approximately $20 &
$10 million respectively, a significant impact to the cost of implementing
renewable energies into the grid.
Solar farm
Funding Partners Description of the Invention
This invention provides a method for adapting a photovoltaic solar farm
inverter to operate as a STATCOM in the distributed generation network,
especially during nights when the solar farm is idle and not producing any
real power. The solar farm inverter, when such adapted, can provide voltage
regulation, as well as damping enhancement and stability improvement.
Such new functionalities are also made possible during daytime when
the solar farm is not producing its rated real power output. A wind farm
can also be customized to perform the same functionalities.
A distributed generation source might produce power in excess of the local
feeder loads (especially during nights) and this might cause the voltage to
Reference rise above utility acceptable limits. The inverter is then used to regulate the
voltage to within the rated limits. This ability supports integration of more
UWO-BA-008 distributed generation sources in the grid.

Sectors or Keywords
Potential Advantages/Uses
Renewable Energy, Distributed Generators

Seamless integration of wind farms into the grid
Patent Status
Regulation of voltage in the grid

Source of additional revenue for PV solar farms during nights (when
US Provisional Patent
solar farms are dormant)
Contact
Jaipreet Bindra
(519) 661-3865
jaipreet.bindra@worldiscoveries.ca