Impact of Increased DFIG Wind Penetration on Power Systems and Markets

Description: This tele-seminar series gives the results from a PSERC project (Executive Summary | Full Report) that examined the impact of increased penetration of doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind generation on power system dynamic performance and hence reliability. DFIG wind turbines use controls that effectively isolate the inertia from the grid. In addition, large wind farms are typically connected to the grid at lower voltage levels resulting in higher fault currents. As a result, the increase in penetration of wind generation may affect a power system's transient stability, overall frequency response, regulation, voltage response, fault ride-through capability, and load-following capability. The impact of increased wind penetration was analyzed under two scenarios: a) Increased wind penetration with concomitant displacement of aged conventional generation, and b) Increased wind penetration without any decrease in existing conventional generation. Analyses identified the conditions under which increased wind penetration could result in violation of reliability criteria. Other selected critical system impact issues were studied, such as on low-voltage ride through and dynamic reactive compensation as per the requirements of FERC standards, and on the effects of increased wind penetration on frequency stability. Solutions of identified problems were explored. The power system reliability impacts of wind power were studied along with the effects on market mechanisms, such as day-ahead reserves. The project focused on markets characterized by i) energy, reserves and capacity bidding, and ii) market settlement. Technical solutions to problems meeting reliability standards were examined along with the effects of the solutions on market mechanisms.