Dynamic Flexible Power Point Tracking in Photovoltaic Power Plants

Frequency support from photovoltaic (PV) power plants is required with new grid codes. To provide frequency support, the PV system needs to regulate the PV power in such a way that a predefined amount power reserve is kept in the PV system. Accordingly, a dynamic flexible power point tracking algorithm (FPPT) for grid-connected PV power plants is introduced in this paper. The proposed algorithm regulates the average PV power by continuously sweeping some portion of the PV curve that includes the given power reference point. The proposed strategy is different from traditional static FPPT techniques as it ensures a predefined amount of power reserve in the PV system. This power reserve provides the flexibility of increasing the power injected into the grid that can be withdrawn with a fast dynamic. Compared to the traditional solutions, in the proposed algorithm, the PV injects a constant power into the grid without any fluctuations. Effectiveness of the proposed technique in providing frequency support in a two-stage grid-connected PV plan is demonstrated by simulation results.