Inverter-based PV ramp-rate limitation strategies: minimizing energy losses

This work analyzes the reduction of power generation in strategies that regulate the PV ramp-rate by using inverter limitation. Although the operating principle implies some energy production losses, not all these losses are necessary. Three different strategies were simulated using experimental 5-second data collected throughout a year at a 38.6 MW PV plant, and their energy losses were obtained for different ramprate levels. An improvement in one of these strategies is proposed and evaluated. The main findings suggest that the proposed modification has the potential to drastically reduce annual production losses to insignificant levels. Regardless of the ramp-rate constrain, simulation results evidenced energy losses bellow 1%.