Grid connected photovoltaic system with super capacitor energy storage and STATCOM for power system stability enhancement

Static synchronous compensators (STATCOMs) have been widely used for voltage support over the past decade, to improve power quality and voltage stability. However, STATCOMs are limited in their ability to improve the system stability margin due to their restricted capability for delivering real power. Super capacitors are devices which can store significant amounts of energy, and are able to quickly release it. With the application and development of the super capacitor energy storage system (SCESS), energy storage technology has been greatly improved in modern power systems. The SCESS plays an important role in improving the operation stability of a power system. The aim of this work is to investigate how super capacitor based energy storage technology can be used to enhance the capability of STATCOM units to maintain a high quality of distribution voltage and improve the system stability of a grid connected photovoltaic system with a super capacitor as the energy storage device. In particular, a grid connected photovoltaic system constituted by photovoltaic and super capacitor sources and STATCOM is simulated in SIMULINK along with a DC to DC buck boost converter using MPPT. The simulation results reflect that system stability was enhanced by the use of the proposed strategy when the system gets affected by different types of fault. The designed system offers a preferable reference for applications of the STATCOM with SCESS in the field of regeneration energy and stability enhancement of power system.