Operation and Control of a Hybrid Power Plant with the Capability of Grid Services Provision

Ayman B Attya,Adam Vickers

doi:10.3390/en14133928

Abstract

The integration of distributed power plants that rely on renewable energy sources (RESs) is a major challenge for system operators (SOs) due to the variable nature of the input energy (e.g., wind and solar irradiation) to these power sources. A key solution to such a challenge is to coordinate and combine the power generation of these sources such that their behavior is closer to a conventional and dispatchable power station, taking into account the limitations imposed by the battery storage system (BESS), so it is seen as a hybrid power plant (HPP) from the SOs’ viewpoint. This paper develops a model of HPP that encompasses two generation technologies, wind and photovoltaic farms, which are assisted by a BESS. The paper proposes a comprehensive control method that can smooth the HPP output with minimized energy rejection whilst enabling the HPP to provide synthetic inertia and primary frequency response, which are grid-code compliant. The proposed control method is validated through various scenarios, which are implemented on a detailed electromechanical test system modeled in MATLAB/Simulink. The results show and quantify the achieved improvement on stabilizing the HPP capacity factor under variable wind speed. The HPP also enhances the system response to frequency events.

Highlights

There are obvious and growing efforts worldwide to increase and expand renewable energy sources (RESs) contributions to the generation mix, replacing the conventional power stations that rely on fossil fuels [1]
system operators (SOs), technology developers and RES farms operators are still facing the fundamental challenge of maintaining power system stability subject to potential risks caused by the variable nature of RES output, which depend on meteorological conditions, e.g., wind speed, tides, solar irradiation, etc. [2]
Significant attention has been given to the provision of frequency support by wind turbines and wind farms (WFs), where supplementary controllers are integrated into the controls of Type 3 and Type 4 wind turbine generators (WTGs) to be capable of providing a regulated active power increment during frequency excursions

Summary

Introduction

There are obvious and growing efforts worldwide to increase and expand RES contributions to the generation mix, replacing the conventional power stations that rely on fossil fuels [1]. The research presented in [12] provides an overview of the various generation technologies that can contribute to HPPs, including wind and hydro power.

Results

Conclusion