Research Article
Impact of Reactive Power Support on Voltage Stability in High PV Penetration Weak Grids: A Seasonal Analysis of the River Zone Network in Niger
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
99-107
Received:
4 May 2026
Accepted:
15 May 2026
Published:
23 July 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajee.20261403.11
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: The increasing penetration of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems in weak transmission grids introduces significant reactive power deficiencies that threaten voltage stability, particularly in developing countries where compensation resources are limited. This paper investigates the impact of multi-step switched capacitor bank reactive power support on voltage stability in the River Zone (RZ) network of Niger, a weak transmission grid undergoing significant PV capacity expansion. A quasi-dynamic simulation framework solves time-series alternating current (AC) power flows at hourly resolution across three representative seasonal periods (January, May, and August) under two scenarios: a baseline case without reactive compensation, and a mitigation case with dynamic hysteretic capacitor bank control. Voltage profiles (VP) and a bus-level Voltage Stability Index (VSI) serve as the primary assessment metrics. In the baseline scenario, May emerges as the most critical period, with VSI outliers descending to 0.64~p.u.\ and multiple buses sustaining prolonged operation below 0.80~p.u.\ Under the mitigation scenario, reactive compensation consistently lifts the VSI above the 0.90~p.u.\ stable threshold across all seasons and eliminates all collapse-risk outliers. The results demonstrate that multi-step capacitor bank support is an effective and seasonally robust voltage stabilization strategy for weak Sub-Saharan African grids with high PV penetration. The findings further highlight the need for systematic reactive power planning and dynamic compensation deployment as an integral component of renewable energy integration strategies in resource-constrained grid environments.
Abstract: The increasing penetration of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems in weak transmission grids introduces significant reactive power deficiencies that threaten voltage stability, particularly in developing countries where compensation resources are limited. This paper investigates the impact of multi-step switched capacitor bank reactive power su...
Show More
,
Ibrahim Yaou Ladoua
