Fadia M. A. Ghali

Electronics Research Institute
Cairo, Egypt
Email: fadia@eri. sci. eg

Abstract

Conventional power plants have formed the skeleton of the electrical energy sources. Together with the A. C. and D. C. transmission and distribution networks, enterprises have been well established. Combining the concepts of New and Renewable Energy Sources (NRES), Distributed Generation (DG) and Hybrid Energy Systems (HES) create new perspectives and possibilities to design an optimal generation and distribution system under consideration of economy, energy efficiency and environmental aspects. However, it will also result in more complex problems in the hybrid distributed generation power systems. Therefore, this paper discusses one of the common problems in power systems; voltage collapse problem, and the effect that can be detected by introducing DG to an existing power system. The problem simulation has been carried out using the specialized software package MODES. Results and discussion are introduced.

1. Introduction

Conventional power plants, utilizing fossil fuels with different capacities, have formed the skeleton of the electrical energy sources. Together with the A. C. and D. C. transmission and distribution networks, enterprises have been well established. With the tremendous industrial breakthrough, huge amounts of electrical energy were demanded. However, the expected shortage of fossil fuels and the increasing awareness for the environmental impacts of such systems result in introducing new alternatives. One of these alternatives is the concept of New and Renewable Energy Sources (NRES), such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal energy sources. Another alternative, which can be applied for the conventional as well as the renewable energy sources, is the Distributed Generation (DG). A third alternative is the concept of Hybrid Energy Systems (HES).[1,2,3] Combining all these alternatives create new perspectives and possibilities to design an optimal generation and distribution system under consideration of economy, energy efficiency and environmental aspects. However, it will also result in more complex problems in the hybrid distributed generation power systems.