Active Power Damping Control using Renewable Energy Sources

Abstract

This Ph.D. report navigates the global energy landscape shaped by ambitious carbon reduction goals. Solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy, driving the growth of renewable energy sources (RESs), signal a significant transformation in power systems. Despite their benefits, the intermittent nature of these sources poses challenges for stability. Inverter-based resources (IBRs), featuring power electronic converters, differ from conventional synchronous machines, impacting system inertia and dynamics. Consequently, grid codes mandate RESs to comply with stringent requirements like ride-through capabilities, frequency regulation, and power regulation. The report proposes a dual Power Oscillation Damping (POD) scheme for RESs to address these challenges. This innovative approach prioritizes active POD during faults, strategically allocating the remaining capacity for reactive POD in a two-area system. Notably, an Automatic Voltage Regulator tailored for Type 5 wind farms, with a synchronous generator and torque converter, yields substantial damping improvements due to dynamics resembling conventional generators. A comparative study using Prony analysis identifies exponential sinusoids in the damped curve, revealing the Type 5 wind turbine's superior damping capabilities. This underscores its pivotal role in fortifying modern power grids. The report advocates for continued research to optimize RES contributions to the evolving power landscape.