The Role of Virtual Synchronous Machines in Future Power Systems: A Review and Future Trends

Abstract

The large-scale integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) into the grid is reshaping the energy landscape, and can significantly impact the operation and stability of the power system. The issues stemming from the evolving energy landscape are challenging, but not insurmountable. Virtual synchronous machines (VSMs) have been proposed as a grid-friendy approach to sustainably integrate large-scale RESs into the grid. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art VSM topologies proposed in literature. Further, it discusses some of the challenges which will stem from the integration of large-scale RESs into the generation mix. Thereafter, potential solutions are proposed based on insights derived from extensive academic research and demonstration projects from the energy industry.