Dynamic performance enhancement of a utility-scale solar PV plant

Abstract

Recent studies on Power Electronic Interfaces (PEI) demonstrate that enhanced performance of a PEI can be achieved through optimal tuning of its controller parameters. As an example nowadays, voltage source converters (VSC) are extensively utilized as the interface between DC energy sources and the power system. Photovoltaic (PV) inverters have emerged as one of the most indispensable and widely utilized components in smart grid operations. Considering the complexity, costliness, and possible ineffectuality of PEI conventional manual tuning processes, an automated controller self-tuning approach has been proposed through harnessing the capabilities of particle swarm optimization (PSO), a heuristic optimization method. The multi-megawatt solar PV-plant has been connected to a benchmark two-area four-machine power system. The entire system is simulated using a real-time digital simulator (RTDS). The solar PV plant enhanced performance in conjunction to both improved steady-state and dynamic operation of each of its voltage source inverters (PV-VSI) concludes the effectiveness and benefits of the proposed tuning approach. This enables smoother renewable energy integration, reliable delivery of energy at a lower cost, and further reduced carbon footprints worldwide.