Impacts of Inertia and Photovoltaic Integration on Existing and Proposed Power System Transient Stability Parameters

Ramkrishna Mishan, Xingang Fu (), Chanakya Hingu and Mohammed Ben-Idris
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Ramkrishna Mishan: Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
Xingang Fu: Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
Chanakya Hingu: Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89557, USA
Mohammed Ben-Idris: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-34

Abstract: The integration of variable distributed energy sources (DERs) can reduce overall system inertia, potentially impacting the transient response of both conventional and renewable generators within electrical grids. Although transient stability indicators—for instance, the Critical Clearing Time (CCT), fault-induced short-circuit current ratios, and machine parameters, including subtransient–transient reactances and associated time constants—are influenced by total system inertia, their detailed evaluation remains insufficiently explored. These parameters provide standardized benchmarks for systematically assessing the transient stability performance of conventional and photovoltaic (PV) generators as the penetration level of distributed PV systems (PVD1) increases. This study explores the relationship between conventional stability parameters and system inertia across different levels of PV penetration. CCT, a key metric for transient stability assessment, incorporates multiple influencing factors and typically increases with higher system inertia, making it a reliable comparative indicator for evaluating the effects of PV integration on system stability. To investigate this, the IEEE New England 39-bus system is adapted by replacing selected synchronous machines with PVD1 PV units and adjusting the PV penetration levels. The resulting system behavior is then compared to that of the original configuration to evaluate changes in transient stability. The findings confirm that transient and subtransient reactances, along with their respective time constants under fault conditions, are shaped not only by the characteristics of the generator on the faulted line but also by the surrounding network structure and overall system inertia. The newly introduced sensitivity parameters offer insights by capturing trends specific to conventional versus PV-based generators under different inertia scenarios. Notably, transient parameters show similar responsiveness to inertia variations to subtransient ones. This paper demonstrates that in certain scenarios, the integration of low-inertia PV generators may generate insufficient energy, which is not above critical energy during major disturbances, resulting surviving fault and subsequently an infinite CCT. While the integration of PV generators can be beneficial for their own operational performance, it may adversely impact the dynamic behavior and fault response of conventional synchronous generators within the system. This highlights the need for effective planning and control of DER integration to ensure reliable power system operation through accurate selection and application of both conventional and proposed transient stability parameters.

Keywords: renewable; photovoltaic; CCT; stability parameters; transient stability; inertia sensitivity; weak grid (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: 2025
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