Grid-Connected PV System Simulation Study

Grid connected systems are emerging as complements to the existing electricity system in many developed countries. Photovoltaic panels represent the most used and efficient system among the renewable energy systems. However, their integration into the main grid poses a challenge. To address this issue, a photovoltaic system integrated with the utility grid is simulated on Matlab/Simulink. The simulation outlines different emerging grid issues, including frequency, voltage, and current imbalance. The system contains a PV panel, a boost converter to increase the PV voltage, and an inverter linked to the grid that converts the DC energy into three-phase AC energy. An MPPT control is introduced to maintain the PV array's peak power output. The inverter is regulated on the grid side to keep the DC link stable and to synchronize the phase and frequency of both the PV and the grid. The results prove the great efficiency of the system under varied irradiance using Matlab.