Stability Analysis of Power Systems with High Penetration of State-of-the-Art Inverter Technologies

Sayan Samanta, Bowen Yang and Gab-Su Seo ()
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Sayan Samanta: Power Systems Engineering Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Bowen Yang: Power Systems Engineering Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, USA
Gab-Su Seo: Power Systems Engineering Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, USA

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: With the increasing level of inverter-based resources (IBRs) in modern power systems, this paper presents a small-signal stability analysis for power systems comprising synchronous generators (SGs) and IBRs. Four types of inverter controls are considered: two grid-following (GFL) controls, with or without grid support functions; droop-based grid-forming (GFM) controls; and virtual oscillator control-based GFM. We also analyze the impact of STATCOM and synchronous condensers on system stability to assess their role in the energy mix transition. With the small-signal dynamic behavior of the major technologies modeled, this paper provides stringent stability assessments using the IEEE 39-bus benchmark system modified to simulate future power systems. The exhaustive test cases allow for (a) assessing the impacts of different types and controls of generation and supplementary grid assets, as well as system inertia and line impedance on grid stability, and (b) elucidating pathways for the stabilization of IBR-dominated power systems. The analysis also indicates that future power systems can be stabilized with only a fraction of the total generation as voltage sources without SGs or significant system inertia if they are well distributed. This study provides insights into future power system operations with a high level of IBRs that can also be used for planning and operation studies.

Keywords: power system stability; inverter-dominated power systems; grid-following inverters; grid-forming inverters; inverter-based resources; small-signal stability (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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