Accelerating solar adoption: PV integration with smart grids

Solar energy, as IRENA described it, is an “ever-fluctuating resource.” This means that it’s dependent on changes in weather and daylight availability. If there are inconsistencies in solar energy generation, it can fail to meet the electricity demand, thereby destabilising the grid.

The world has seen the global demand for better energy sources substantially rise in recent years. When we say “better,” we refer to cleaner and more sustainable ones — most notably, solar energy, which is known for its abundance and ease of utilisation.

One way to harness solar energy, a renewable energy source, is through the use of modern photovoltaic (PV) technology. However, increasing PV penetration into power grids introduces challenges. And this is where smart grids come into play.

PV integration issues and how smart grids help

In the quest to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix, various technical aspects must be addressed. These include upgrading old grid systems to accommodate the nature of renewable energy — especially solar energy — generation. 

Solar energy, as IRENA described it, is an “ever-fluctuating resource.” This means that it’s dependent on changes in weather and daylight availability. If there are inconsistencies in solar energy generation, it can fail to meet the electricity demand, thereby destabilising the grid.

Smart grids can address this by enabling real-time monitoring and improving how grids respond to changes in both power generation and consumption. Thanks to demand-side management and energy storage systems, smart grids can make use of excess generation during peak times and release it when production is low.

Distribution is another concern. Conventionally speaking, centralised power plants don’t allow several small-scale producers (think residential rooftop solar panels and community solar projects) to link with the grid, primarily, due to safety concerns and system compatibility.

A Middle East Energy report emphasises the critical role of modern grid systems in facilitating distributed generation. Smart grids enable the integration of multiple power generation sources, including large utility-scale plants, small-scale distributed renewable setups, battery storage, and demand response (DR) systems. 
 
This enhanced integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) addresses the distribution challenges by ensuring a more resilient and decentralised energy system. 

Efforts in the Middle East

The Middle East is a region that strongly recognises the need to accelerate the shift toward a more sustainable-driven energy mix. This acknowledgment is materialised in various infrastructure and digitalisation efforts.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), for example, has been investing in digital substations to decentralise power networks. Meanwhile, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) is poised to invest up to $2 billion to implement its integrated smart grid strategy in multiple phases until 2035. 

“We work in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide a state-of-the-art and integrated infrastructure for electricity and water to meet the growing demand and keep pace with the sustainable development needs and make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world. This goes in parallel with providing electricity and water services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, sustainability, and quality by managing facilities and services via a smart and interconnected network that adopts the latest disruptive technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” remarked HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

In Saudi Arabia, the ambitious Vision 2030 serves as a blueprint that has helped accelerate the country’s drive for digital transformation, including the incorporation of smart grid technology. For instance, back in December 2023, NEOM’s water and electricity subsidiary ENOWA unveiled its plan to develop the world’s first renewable, high-voltage smart grid. This project — described as the “grid of microgrids” — will fully power NEOM with renewable electricity. 

In June this year, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Baker Hughes, a global leader in energy technology. One objective of this MoU is to make SEC’s asset-intensive electricity ecosystem more efficient, reliable, and sustainable. In particular, the partnership will allow the two entities to explore advanced condition monitoring, asset health technology, and data centralisation solutions across SEC’s power generation facilities. 

Meanwhile, Oman is also making significant developments in the adoption of PV integration with smart grids. The Nama Electricity Distribution Company (NEDC) reported a sharp increase in applications for small and medium-scale grid-connected solar PV projects. 

In 2023 alone, the number of applications nearly doubled. This mirrors growing interest in renewable energy among residential, commercial, and governmental customers. By the end of 2023, NEDC’s renewable energy customer base had grown to 428 customers, with a total production capacity of 29.65 MW. According to its annual report, NEDC forecasts that by the end of 2024, the PV generation capacity connected to its network will reach 50 MW.

 

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