Wind power plant level testing of inertial response with optimised recovery behaviour

Abstract

This study presents and assesses the outcomes of inertial response tests performed on a transmission system-connected wind power plant in the Canadian province of Quebec. Frequency signals representing a response to a typical loss of generation event were injected into the wind turbines’ control systems to artificially trigger an active power increase. The measurement campaign aimed to fulfil two main objectives. First, to validate the performance of a wind turbine control algorithm designed to optimise the active power behaviour after inertial response activation. Second, to study the correlation between individual wind turbine and wind power plant behaviours during, and immediately after, an inertial response event. This publication offers an update on the capabilities and limitations of type 4 wind turbines for providing inertial response functionalities. Furthermore, it underlines the importance of understanding the various parameters that have an impact on the aggregate inertial response of a wind power plant in reality as well as in dynamic simulations. This publication also addresses how simulations can be used to predict the behaviour of inertial response from wind power plants. Final results suggest that current approaches for integrating and evaluating inertial response from wind power plants in system planning studies should be revisited.