A Causal Loop Diagram to Analyze Various Long-Term Effects of PV Integration into Power Systems

High penetration of renewable energy resources into future power systems has necessitated to develop more innovative models for pursuing the effects of such a renewable energy transition. The objective of this paper is to propose a system dynamics-based model to help policy makers for assessing the impacts of their decisions on the penetration of photovoltaic (PV) systems as renewable energy sources on the power systems in a long-term horizon. To do this, first the penetration of PVs into power systems is studied considering the economic, technical, environmental, and social aspects. Then, a causal loop diagram of system dynamics model is provided to model the penetration of PVs into power systems. Finally, based on the proposed model, the PV penetration patterns under interactions between community, government, PV investors and power system operator are discussed.