Flicker in distribution networks due to photovoltaic systems

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are the most promising renewable energy sources in Egypt because of its location being in the solar belt where the sunlight is available throughout the year. Due to the increasing penetration of PV systems in electric power systems, power quality is becoming of crucial importance for the further deployment of renewable generation. The irregular solar radiation is considered to be one of the main drawbacks of the large-scale application of PV in distribution networks. Moving clouds can produce fast and short irradiance fluctuations, which can produce voltage fluctuations in power networks. Alexandria Electricity Distribution Company has connected about 600 kW PVs with different capacities to the distribution network. The measurements carried out at the point of common coupling to determine the effect of PVs on distribution networks and the results are compared with the technical requirements for connecting PV systems to low-voltage distribution networks. This research studies the relation between the PVs with different capacity, different inverter types (single phase and three phases) and flicker in the distribution network at the point of common coupling. The measurements for these PVs will be carried out on sunny days and then will be repeated on cloudy days in winter to find out the clouds effect on the flicker values at the point of common coupling.