Assessment of the Royal Decree 244/2019 in the Spanish Electrical Regulatory Framework Considering Power Quality Issues related to Harmonic Distortion associated to Nonlinear loads in Grid-connected Microgrids

Abstract

Distributed Generation (DG) in Spain has recently been boosted through the impact in the regulatory framework of the electrical grid and the electrical market provided by the Royal Decree 244/2019. One important novelty is that it incorporates to the Royal Decree 842/2002 a modification establishing that prosumers associated to a self-consumption Grid-connected Microgrid (GCMG) classified as without energy surplus, cannot deliver energy to the electrical network. The criteria for ensuring this restriction only consider classical Power Factor (PF) calculation, Overvoltage and DC current injection and do not consider Power Quality (PQ) issues related to Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). In the recent years, nonlinear loads are increasing its presence in the electrical installations consumption side. Nonlinear loads such as lighting, electronic devices and others can pollute with harmonics the GCMG and, therefore, the Grid. This work proposes an assessment of the modifications of the Royal Decree 842/2002 considering PQ issues related to THD due to the Nonlinear Loads existing on a GCMG in the context of the Smart Grid (SG).