Optimal electrical architectures of linear photovoltaic systems and services contributed to grid

In France, the Multiannual Energy Programming project published in early 2019 plans to multiply by 4 or 5 the production capacity of photovoltaic energy in less than 10 years. In this context of strong demand for 'clean' energy, an electricity network with a high rate of renewable energy (ENR) (up to 30% in 2030 in France) and the expansion of solar energy, many large photovoltaic (PV) plants of the order of a few hundred MW each have to be installed. However, because of the required surfaces, the development of large-scale ground-mounted solar power plants can lead to conflicts of use with agricultural land and affect biodiversity. The question of the land availability for this use therefore becomes crucial.The objective of this thesis is to present and study a solution that can respond to this problem: take advantage of linear surfaces, extending from hundreds of meters to tens, or even hundreds of kilometers, and only a few meters or few tens of meters large, such as cycle paths, motorway edges, railways, river dikes, etc. to install high-power PV systems. These potential surfaces have the advantages of being very present in Europe and throughout the world, exploitable for PV and inexpensive (because of little value for other uses). The installation of new types of linear PV plants will open up opportunities but on the other hand, they also have challenges to face such as technical problems to identify and study.The work of this thesis will, in particular, consist in defining and optimizing the electrical architecture of these large-scale innovative linear photovoltaic systems, according to criteria related to energy performance, operating reliability and installation, maintenance costs because so-called classical architectures are unsuitable here. This thesis will also aim to identify the services contributed by these plants to the electricity network. It is divided into six chapters:-The first chapter presents the state of the art and the energy context of renewable energy, solar energy and linear PV systems.-In the second chapter, we develop a modeling tool, which must be at the same time precise, reliable, robust and which can be adapted to each of the simulation needs of the thesis. In this chapter, we present detailed Matlab / Simulink models of all major components of a typical PV system.-In the third chapter, we first constitute, from the detailed models of the components developed in the previous chapter, a complete model of a PV system. After verifying the reliability of this model, we use it to model different electrical architectures of a large-scale linear PV plant in order to estimate the relative performance of each of them, study the technical requirements or limits and determine innovative and more efficient architectures for this new type of PV system.-In the fourth chapter, we design an efficient optimization tool in order to deal with technical and economic optimization problems of large-scale linear PV systems, since financial aspects are always preponderant in the design of a plant and its components.-In the fifth chapter, we exploit the advantageous contributions that high power linear PV systems occupying a territory over a significant length can make regarding the services for the electricity network. Six different auxiliary services, or even system services are discussed: frequency adjustment, voltage adjustment, improvement of network stability, support capacity in the event of a short-circuit, congestion management and compensation of electricity transmission losses.-Finally, the thesis ends with a conclusion on the innovative points and the advantages of linear PV plants to offer the possibility of responding to real needs and provide benefits that conventional architectures cannot. We also make a review of the limits of current policy and technology regarding this new PV system type and open some perspectives that may follow this research. (author)