Optimal Control Methods for Photovoltaic-Enabled Grids

Dear Colleagues, 

Solar power generated by photovoltaic (PV) cells has become one of the most reliable and important clean electricity sources. These alternative energy sources are desirable not only for environmental reasons but also because the currently used fossil fuel may have a limited supply and is not sustainable. Integration of PV sources can take place at both the transmission and the distribution systems. However, this integration can cause a serious problem of voltage oscillation along the distribution line due to the distributed nature of PV generators connecting with the grid and injecting power intermittently. Moreover, during the power delivery, thermal loss in the circuit also degrades the utility of PV cells. Hence, reducing the voltage fluctuation and power loss when large-scale PV cells are installed within the PV-enabled grid becomes an essential and interesting topic of the smart grid. Optimal control methods are the key to mitigate the voltage oscillation and address these challenges in a PV-enabled grid. 

This Special Issue on “Optimal Control Methods for Photovoltaic-Enabled Grids” aims to curate novel advances in developing and applying computational modeling to address modern sustainable power challenges in PV-enabled grids. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Development of new optimization methods for distribution power circuits;
• System-level design strategies that make use of optimal, model predictive, or adaptive controls;
• Integration of open-loop or closed-loop control with battery to drive needed responses toward optimal power delivery in distribution networks;
• The development of optimal control with electric vehicle (EV) charging in smart grids.

Prof. Dr. Hen-Geul Yeh
Dr. Yu Yang
Guest Editors

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