A solution to power balancing in high renewable penetration power system: Use of Abandoned Generating Units

Abstract

The world is drifting towards a renewable dominated power scenario. Among the renewable energy sources, wind power projects are gaining the prominence. In the new energy mix, many conventional paradigms are being redefined. For years, steam turbine time constants which were assumed as constant proved to be no longer constants as the generation schedule varies. With the increased penetration of renewable, conventional power plants are facing threat of shut down. Meanwhile, majority of synchronous machines in these conventional power plants such as thermal and nuclear stations are operated at partial generation schedule between 70 % and 90 %, due to various economic and environmental factors. The shut down of conventional power plants results in abatement of numerous synchronous machines. This work proposes the use of abandoned thermal generating units as synchronous condenser to aid dynamic frequency regulation in a high renewable penetrated power system with varying generation schedule. The synchronous condenser provides momentary active power support following a load change. Simulation studies were carried out under various scenarios of generation schedule and incorporation of synchronous condenser. Obtained results bridges the concepts of varying generation schedule and synchronous condenser and their effect on dynamic frequency regulation of power system has been analysed.