Comparative Analysis of Real and Reactive Power Generation in Traditional Power Systems and Grid-Connected PV Systems Under Various Configurations

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are becoming integral to modern energy systems due to their sustainable power generation capabilities. Understanding their performance under various configurations and conditions becomes essential with the increased adoption of PV arrays. Various PV array configurations and partial shading significantly impact the real and reactive power output of PV systems. However, there is a shortage of research that explores the comparative performance of traditional power systems and grid-connected PV systems across different configurations, which is a significant challenge for grid optimization. This paper addresses the need to evaluate real and reactive power generation in traditional and PV systems, which was achieved by modeling and simulating traditional power systems as well as grid-connected solar PV systems for configurations such as series, parallel, and series-parallel arrangements, for both normal condition and partial shading. The findings highlight the significance of reactive power adjustment as well as power factor improvement for grid stability and provide guidance for optimizing renewable energy systems.