Sharm El-Sheikh 5 MW PV Plant Performance, Environmental Impact and Grid Connection Parameters

A few years ago, most of photovoltaics (PV) were installed in rather small stand-alone systems, the majority of today´s modules are implemented in grid-connected systems satisfying well-defined technical aspects. This growth is mostly due to the ambitious subsidy programs adopted by governments in the developing countries. Meanwhile, to be successfully integrated with the utility grid in low, medium, or high voltage networks, it is essential to meet the requirements of the country interconnection code. In this paper, the requirements of the Egyptian grid code for connecting a 5 MW PV plant with utility grid have been examined and evaluated. In addition, the environmental effects of installing the PV plant have been discussed and compared with fossil fuels.