Impact of PVs on Low-Voltage Distribution Power Systems

This paper presents a study of the impact of photovoltaics (PVs) on low-voltage distribution power systems. The main objective is to determine the possible guidelines for improving the systems, responding to the increasing of the PVs in the system. Focusing on power loss and the transformer performance, the study was conducted comparatively between single-phase and three-phase PVs in a balanced and unbalanced system; the PVs was sized up to 120% of the total load in the system. Results show the single-phase PVs cause more power loss that is seen as the main effect of the PVs, whether the system is balance or not. The three-phase PVs can enhance the system efficiency as it helps reducing the overall power loss, and sharing loads properly.