System Stability Impact of Large-Scale and Distributed Solar Photovoltaic Generation: The Case of Ontario, Canada

TLDR

This paper presents a comparative investigation of PV effect on system stability at different penetration levels. The study models distributed units and centralized farms—with and without voltage regulation—using real Ontario network data, then evaluates their impact on eigenvalue, voltage, and transient stability and quantifies the results in monetary terms based on long‑run marginal cost. Distributed solar PV generators are shown to be significantly more advantageous for stability than solar farms.

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative investigation of (PV) effect on system stability at different penetration levels. Three different scenarios with their relevant dynamic models are considered, namely, distributed units, and centralized farms with and without voltage regulation capabilities. Based on these models, the impact is examined through eigenvalue, voltage stability and transient stability analyses using real network data pertaining to Ontario and its neighboring systems. This impact is quantized in monetary terms based on the long run marginal cost of electricity production in Ontario. It is demonstrated that distributed solar PV generators are significantly more advantageous, from the stability point of view, than solar farms.