Grid-connected rooftop PV systems for reducing voltage drops at the end ofthe feeder - a case study in Corsica Island

In this paper, we focused on a way to compensate voltage drops occurring at the end of the feeder from a real case in Corsica Island. In this aim, we opted for a solution based on grid-connected rooftop PV systems. Using a simulation of voltage drops on the chosen end of a line, we applied a methodology based on physical, technical and economic constraints to det ermine the best system configurations which significantly reduced the drops . Several strategies were used to progressively equip segments subject to v oltage drops with rooftop PV systems. The method led to a large number of s uitable configurations. We allowed for one or two monthly voltage drops as we could not totally eradicate them for technical reasons. Taking technical and economic considerations into account, we retained two surfaces (40 and 70 m(2)) that satisfy our hypothesis. A study of the chosen systems performances completes this paper. The PV roo ftop system supplies between 40.3 and 42.3% of the yearly user's consumptio n. Results of this study demonstrate that PV generation can be integrated into a utility system and can decrease drops during the sunny hours but depends strongly on the chosen site due to the fact that each end of line is a cas e of study. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.