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Adaptive PV Frequency Control Strategy Based on Real-time Inertia Estimation

Journal Article · · IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  2. Univ. of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD (Australia)
  3. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
The declining cost of solar Photovoltaics (PV) generation is driving its worldwide deployment. As conventional generation with large rotating masses is being replaced by renewable energy such as PV, the power system’s inertia will be affected. As a result, the system’s frequency may vary more dramatically in the case of a disturbance, and the frequency nadir may be low enough to trigger protection relays such as under-frequency load shedding. The existing frequency-watt function mandated in power inverters cannot provide grid frequency support in a loss-of-generation event, as PV plants usually do not have power reserves. Here, a novel adaptive PV frequency control strategy is proposed to reserve the minimum power required for grid frequency support. A machine learning model is trained to predict system frequency response under varying system conditions, and an adaptive allocation of PV headroom reserves is made based on the machine learning model as well as real-time system conditions including inertia. Case studies show the proposed control method meets the frequency nadir requirements using minimal power reserves compared to a fixed headroom control approach.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1764455
Journal Information:
IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 12; ISSN 1949-3053
Publisher:
IEEECopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English