Determination of the Maximum Solar Photovoltaic Penetration Rate of a Slightly Mesh Network: Burkina Faso Interconnected Electrical Grid Case Study.

This paper present the determination of the maximum penetration rate of the solar photovoltaic power plants production of the national interconnected electrical grid of Burkina Faso where several solar photovoltaic power plants in the upcoming years must be hosted. Since 2017, the first solar photovoltaic power plant has been inaugurated in its phase 1 with an installed capacity of 33 MWp, the total installed capacity should reach 50 MWp after the phase 2. Similar projected solar PV power plants should increase the national PV production over 100 MWp by 2022. This study analyzes the impacts of the solar power plants connected to the grid with different penetration rates. The solar power plants are primarily connected to the grid through medium voltage and high voltage busbars. The modeling and simulations have been carried using the software NEPLAN. With a penetration rate of 40%, the electrical grid reaches its optimal operation limits. This rate equals a power of 103.4 MW, overvoltage occur in busbars and overloads in transformers. Beyond this rate, important reinforcement works are requisite for a proper functioning.