Integration of solar energy into the Zambia power grid considering ramp rate constraints

Abstract

Zambia's national power grid is facing a constraint in meeting the present and expected future demand. Solar photovoltaic (PV) power is a promising option for large-scale renewable energy integration in Zambia as there is abundant insolation, averaging 5.5kWh/m2/day. However, large-scale integration of solar will increase the variability and uncertainty in the power supply, which can result in blackouts. This research investigates the maximum PV capacity that can be integrated into the existing Zambia grid while considering the ramp rate constraints of the existing generators. An optimal power flow using MATPOWER version 5.1 was performed using a transmission system model of the grid. The simulation used actual hourly load, generation and solar irradiance for a period of 1632 hours.