The Integration Of 5MW Solar Power Into Port Harcourt Town Using Unified Power Flow Controller

This study investigates the integration of a 5MW solar power system into the Elekahia Housing Estate grid to address challenges such as renewable energy intermittency, voltage instability, and transmission losses. A Particle Swarm Optimization technique was employed to optimally tune the Unified Power Flow Controller, while Flexible AC Transmission System devices were used to provide dynamic voltage regulation and impedance control. Energy storage systems were incorporated to mitigate renewable power fluctuations and support peak demand. Simulation results show that the inclusion of energy storage increases total grid output to a peak of 8.9MW, with storage contributing between 0.45MW and 1.8MW, thereby smoothing the demand curve and supporting peak loads between 18:00 and 21:00 hours. The State of Charge (SOC) analysis indicates effective battery management, with SOC rising to about 60% during off-peak hours and dropping to approximately 45% during high-demand periods. The integration of the 5MW solar generation further enhances system capacity, enabling the network to meet a demand of 7.9MW during evening peaks, compared to the original 4MW capacity. Voltage and current fluctuations observed in the absence of control devices were significantly reduced with the implementation of the optimized UPFC. The PSO-optimized UPFC demonstrated superior voltage regulation, reduced current peaks, and improved power flow stability compared to the conventional UPFC. Overall, the combined integration of renewable energy, energy storage, and advanced control technologies significantly enhances grid stability, operational efficiency, and reliability. The findings provide strong evidence that optimized FACTS control and energy storage systems can effectively support high-penetration solar power integration, reduce transmission losses, and improve voltage stability in urban distribution networks. The study recommends policy adoption and grid modernization strategies that incorporate PSO-optimized UPFC, energy storage systems, edge computing, and quantum-enhanced optimization to support sustainable and resilient renewable energy deployment.