Reliability Assessment of a PV-Integrated 132 kV Power Network Using ETAP

This study presents a reliability assessment framework integrating ETAP simulations and probabilistic modeling to evaluate the reliability and operational impacts of photovoltaic (PV) integration on the Diyala 132 kV power network. The primary goal is to quantify the trade-off between improved reliability indices and operational shifts, such as altered power flows, loss reduction, and increased short-circuit fault currents. In this context, a reproducible methodology for assessing photovoltaic system reliability is presented, emphasizing probabilistic variations associated with photovoltaic power supplied through power electronic converter components. The study utilizes the Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) for comprehensive network simulation, including load flow and short-circuit analysis. To model the stochastic nature of PV systems, a Capacity Outage Probability Table (COPT) based on the failure rates of power electronic components (e.g., DC converters, inverters) is linked to standard reliability indices. The integration of PV significantly alters network dynamics, notably reducing total apparent active power losses from 16.203 MW to 10.174 MW. However, PV penetration also increases short-circuit currents across the grid, necessitating adjustments to relay coordination to ensure protection. Furthermore, the results indicate that relay coordination adjustments may be required to mitigate increased fault currents while maintaining system efficiency. This research links component-level reliability analysis performed in MATLAB with system-level assessment conducted in ETAP, providing a reproducible methodology for evaluating PV-integrated grids. To enhance power system assessment, the proposed reliability framework provides information that may support relay coordination adjustment based on component failure characteristics.