Assessment of reactive power compensation using distributed generation

Abstract

The provision of reactive power is a means of improving the voltage profile for a power grid. In this research, the use of distributed generation as a source of reactive power for voltage improvement is demonstrated. A solar PV system can be used as a source of reactive power that is produced by the inverter. To justify its importance, the system is compared with conventional methods that include; Static shunt capacitors, Static series capacitors, Synchronous compensators, Static VAr compensators, and STATCOMs. Kibuku town council is used as a case study. To implement this project, the case study is modeled and simulated to determine the available voltage profiles. The conventional methods are modeled to improve the voltage profile and a grid-connected solar PV system is also modeled. These two are simulated for voltage improvement and the results obtained which are voltage outputs are compared. From these results, the need for distributed generation as a means of reactive power compensation is justified.