Analysis of Large-Scale Photovoltaic System Integration in Malaysia Using PVsyst and ETAP

Abstract

The increasing deployment of large-scale solar (LSS) photovoltaic (PV) systems play an important role in supporting Malaysia's transition towards a low-carbon electricity sector. However, integrating utility-scale PV generation into the transmission network requires comprehensive technical assessment to ensure compliance with grid operational requirements, including voltage regulation, fault current limits, and reactive power capability. This paper presents the performance assessment of a 23.625 MW grid-connected LSS photovoltaic system in Sepang, Selangor, using a combination of PVsyst and Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP). The PV system was designed in PVsyst using JA Solar JAM72S30-525-MR monocrystalline modules and SMA Sunny Central 2200 central inverters to estimate annual energy production under local meteorological conditions. The generated AC power profile was subsequently incorporated into an IEEE 10-Bus transmission network model developed in ETAP to evaluate load flow performance, three-phase short-circuit levels, and inverter power factor sensitivity. The designed PV system achieved an annual grid-injected energy of 35.97 GWh with a performance ratio of 84.8%, indicating efficient operation under Malaysian climatic conditions. Load flow analysis demonstrated improved voltage profiles following PV integration, while the maximum three-phase fault current remained below the Malaysian Grid Code limit of 31.5 kA. Sensitivity analysis further showed that operation at 0.85 lagging power factor provided the most favorable voltage support among the operating conditions considered. The findings demonstrate that the proposed photovoltaic system can be successfully integrated into the transmission network while satisfying the selected Malaysian Grid Code requirements, providing a practical framework for evaluating future utility-scale photovoltaic developments.