A Brief Overview of Current Methods for Assessing the Operational Stability of Low-Power Grid-Connected Photovoltaic PowerPlants

Abstract

The article provides a brief overview of modern approaches to assessing the operational stability of low-power grid-connected photovoltaic stations (PV) in conditions of increasing climate stress and grid infrastructure restrictions. Based on an analysis of domestic and international studies, key groups of factors that shape the stability of small PV stations have been systematised: technical, operational, climatic, and integration factors. It is shown that the availability factor is a basic integral indicator of reliability, but its interpretative value is significantly increased when considered in conjunction with MTBF, MTTF, MTTR and CUF metrics. A critical analysis of the impact of equipment failures, climate-induced module degradation, topology features, and the level of digitalisation of monitoring on the operational status of systems is provided. A summary of existing approaches allows us to identify the structural elements of a comprehensive methodology for assessing the operational stability of PV and emphasises the need to develop integrated models capable of taking into account the combined impact of climatic, technical and organisational factors.