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The depletion of conventional fuel reserves and the high carbon emissions have alarmed the energy sector drivers. The integration of renewable energy resources (RERs) towards power system transformation is an obvious approach for a new-zero future. However, this integration also brings challenges in terms of voltage stability and power losses due to the variable output of RERs. To address these challenges, this work proposes a novel approach utilizing photovoltaic (PV) inverters and static var compensators (SVCs) for reactive power control in power distribution networks (PDNs). It enhances voltage stability and minimizes power losses. The proposed study deploys a proximal policy optimization (PPO) algorithm for real-time communication and control between reactive power devices. Performance evaluation was made on an IEEE-33 Bus system to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in integrating RER-based distributed generators (DGs). The proposed system achieved 68 % voltage control, keeping the voltage within a certain range of ±5 % while minimizing power losses. The proposed system also reduced the voltage out-of-control ratio to 0.044, which indicates minimum voltage deviation from the standard value. The proposed study provides a promising solution for controlling the voltage of DGs integrated PDN, which can potentially enhance the efficiency and reliability of the power system. • This paper introduces PV inverters and SVC-based reactive power voltage regulation for renewable DG-integrated systems. • Reactive power control in the DG-integrated system is adopted using Reinforcement Learning-Driven PPO. • The validation of the proposed method uses the IEEE-33 bus system to integrate RERs-based DGs and achieve PPO-based control. • The proposed method achieved 68% voltage control, reduced power loss, and reduced the voltage out-of-control ratio to 0.044. • This research compares the suggested approach to different methodologies to demonstrate its validity and applicability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A local load connected with the grid-interfaced photovoltaic (GIPV) system demands reactive power compensation at the distribution level. The compensation either fulfilled by the PV inverter or grid side arrangements such as capacitor bank, static VAR compensator or tap-changing transformers. Amongst both, the inverter has merit to compensate reactive power without using an additional compensator or oversizing the inverter rating. However, it always depends upon the availability of irradiance and especially when the inverter transfers power with full capacity has no margin to generate the reactive power. Therefore, to make the system flexible according to the demand of the local loads and to create a margin to generate the reactive power at any time instant, a GIPV system with modified perturb & observe (MP&O) maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique has been proposed. This proposed technique with an intermediate boost converter extracts maximum power more efficiently as compared to the traditional MPPT technique. On the other hand, it curtails the generated active power and provides margin for the PV inverter to generate the reactive power. Further, the PV inverter generates active and reactive power to the local loads as well as transfer power to the grid using inverter control. The inverter control comprises of decoupled instantaneous active and reactive power control. In this control scheme, it maintains the DC-link voltage and power flow between the GIPV system and the grid under all available irradiance conditions. In this respect, a 30 kW GIPV system is simulated and performance of the system is validated using real-time OP4510 hardware-in-loop (HIL) setup. • Modified P&O MPPT technique is proposed to extract the PV power. • Derated mode of Modified P&O MPPT technique is implemented to curtail the active power. • Smart utilization of PV inverter's capability for the reactive power compensation. • Simulation results are validated using Opal-RT OP4510. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]