Impact assessment of photovoltaic and wind energy integration on low voltage distribution networks in Tunisia

Owing to the growing interest in the environmental impacts and energy security associated with traditional electrical energy sources, the renewable energy sources (RESs) integration of, particularly in distribution networks, is becoming increasingly urgent. Due to their decentralized characteristics, RESs have the ability to improve distribution system performance and efficiency by enhancing energy security, reliability and independence. However, the integration of RESs may influence the steady-state operation of the distribution network. Accordingly, an assessment of the impact of the high RESs integration such as wind and photovoltaic micro sources on a low-voltage (LV) radial distribution network within the Tunisia’s Sfax-North distribution network is presented in this study. To carry this out, RESs are modelled and incorporated into the power flow problem of the studied network, and then a backward/forward sweep-based technique implemented in the MATLAB environment is adopted for its implementation. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of integrating RESs on key technical parameters of a real LV distribution network, including voltage profiles, branch currents, active and reactive power flows, and total power losses. This analysis is based on extensive simulation studies across various operating conditions and a comparative study of existing works. The simulation results reveal that appropriate sizing and placement of RESs can improve the network efficiencies and performances in terms of voltage profile, reduce power losses and mitigate reverse power flow.