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Solar energy contributes a major share in sustainable energy-based electricity generation. The solar power transfer system (SPTS) has emerged to integrate solar energy into the distribution network. Moreover, the adverse effects and exhaustible nature of fossil fuels have made the control and design of the SPTS significant. This paper presents a novel grid integration control, named frequency adaptive generalized integral (FAGI) algorithm for a three-phase four-wire SPTS to compensate the reactive power, harmonics and DC offset demands of the sinks connected at the common point, and also eliminates the grid neutral current along with maximum PV array power injection to the grid. The narrow bandwidth bandpass filter property of the FAGI algorithm with adaptive corner frequency improves the fundamental component quality without compromising the response time at adverse operating conditions. The two-stage SPTS uses a DC–DC boost converter for peak power extraction. An enhanced incremental conductance (EIC) algorithm is utilized for its control, which gives simple and dynamic performance over other conventional maximum power point tracking techniques. The system control is developed to meet the load requirements, even at zero irradiance by importing the active power from the grid. Therefore, the major objectives of this work are extracting maximum power, meeting the load demands, and maintaining the grid power quality at any operating conditions. Comparison of FAGI with other common controls, is carried out and the results are produced. The system performances are analyzed at PV-side, load-side, and grid-side disturbances in the MATLAB/Simulink model, and examined the grid power quality compliance with the IEEE-519 standard. An experimental prototype of the system is developed in the laboratory and tested rigorously for multiple dynamic scenarios for validating the reported claims. • Novel frequency adaptive generalized integral control for grid integration. • Compensates load reactive power, unbalanced currents, harmonics and neutral current. • FAGI enhances dynamic response at fluctuating loads and rejects input DC offset. • System has bi-directional power transfer capability at the grid coupling point. • Performance confirmed from experimental results on developed prototype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because electricity generation from renewable energy is seasonal and intermittent, the risk associated with its cash flow volatility may discourage investments in this area. In this paper, a method called Energy Reallocation Mechanism is proposed to mitigate this problem. The idea, inspired by the current mechanism used in Brazil for Hydropower plants, consists of the creation of a renewable energy portfolio and the allocation of the quotas of this portfolio to each source. Because the portfolio cash flow is more stable than the individual cash flows, the financial risk of being in the portfolio is reduced. The proposed mechanism is based on a stochastic approach and it combines future scenarios of generation in order to produce future scenarios of cash flow. Beyond the Expected Value applied in the Brazilian mechanism, it also considers the Conditional Value at Risk to account for average and risk, respectively, associated with the generation profile of each source. Finally, based on the aforementioned, the Marginal Benefit method is applied to allocate the portfolio’s quotas for the renewable sources guaranteeing that the solution provided is suitable under the cooperative game theory viewpoint. For didactic reasons a small renewable energy portfolio, formed by Wind Power, Small Hydro and Biomass, is used for comparing the proposed mechanism with the Shapley Value method and the current method applied in Brazil. The applicability for larger systems is demonstrated with real data from the Brazilian Power System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] This paper provides a critical comparison of two possible schemes to supply 1-phase loads from self excited induction generators (SEIGs). [•] It presents the best capacitor topology and generalized method of solution for each scheme. [•] It also draws very interesting results of voltage regulation and maximum power output with these two options. [•] The paper evolves a simple 1-phase, 5kW electricity generation systems for remote area electrification using bio, and pico hydro energy sources. [•] The recommended schemes avoid power electronic converters for simplicity, cost effectiveness, reliability with user friendly features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As more renewable resources are integrated into the grid, non-dispatchable renewable energy and more detailed considerations of short-term operation should be represented in generation planning models. In this paper, the screening curve method is utilized to model these details for generation capacity expansion. In addition to previous studies, we further develop the screening curve method with more detailed consideration of thermal cycling. Computational results performed on a real system case are compared and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The large-scale integration of microgeneration (MG) can bring several technical benefits, such as: improving the voltage profile, reducing power losses and allowing for network capacity investment deferral. Furthermore, it is now widely accepted that introducing new renewable MG, such as wind turbines, photovoltaic panels or biomass can help control carbon emissions, reduce our dependence on oil and contribute to a sustainable energy growth. This paper presents an empirical analysis of the benefits of MG on avoided losses, voltage profiles and branch congestion. The main goal is to clarify whether the current regulatory framework allows for obtaining all the MG potential gains. The main conclusion is that some legal constraints should be removed, or at least relaxed, in order to promote the growth of distributed power generation, particularly, for domestic MG. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]