Verification of Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Plant Models for Dynamic Studies of Transmission Networks

Ram Machlev, Zohar Batushansky, Sachin Soni, Vladimir Chadliev, Juri Belikov and Yoash Levron
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Ram Machlev: The Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
Zohar Batushansky: Israel Electric Corporation and the Department of Electrical Engineering, Ariel University, Ariel 40700, Israel
Sachin Soni: First Solar, Inc., Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
Vladimir Chadliev: First Solar, Inc., Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
Juri Belikov: Department of Software Science, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 15a, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia
Yoash Levron: The Andrew and Erna Viterbi Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-21

Abstract: In recent years, there has been a growing need for accurate models that describe the dynamics of renewable energy sources, especially photovoltaic sources and wind turbines. In light of this gap, this work focuses on the validation of standard dynamic models developed by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), using actual measurements from the Western Texas and Southern California transmission networks. The tests are based on the North American Electric Reliability Corporation compliance standards and include dynamic stability tests for volt-varcontrol and primary frequency response. Through an extensive set of field tests, we show that the WECC generic models can be used to simulate real dynamic phenomena in large-scale solar photovoltaic power plants, and we propose guidelines for correct usage of these models. The results show that the WECC models are especially accurate when the photovoltaic system is connected with a low impedance to the main network. We also show that the tested WECC models successfully predict the frequency response of an actual grid event that occurred in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and which resulted in a loss of nearly 1.365 GW. This result supports the use of these models in the study of large-scale dynamic phenomena that include renewable energy sources.

Keywords: photovoltaic plants; transmission networks; power dynamics; frequency response; volt/VAR control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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