Investigation of Grid Connected Solar PV Hosting Capacity in LV Distribution Networks

The grid connected solar PV systems have been significantly increased in the recent past mainly due to government policy initiatives around the globe for renewable energy developments. Diverse technical merits, comparatively simple installations and declining costs have influenced an unprecedented growth of solar PV. However, the technical challenges arising in distribution networks have to be systematically addressed in order to increase the solar PV hosting capacity (maximum solar PV penetration level without violating any operating constraint's) of LV distribution networks. This paper presents solar PV hosting capacity evaluation for a selected LV distribution network incorporating overvoltage issue and further the paper elaborates the effects of some operational changes and network upgrades for the enhancement of solar PV hosting capacity of the selected network.