Validation of the Power Plant Controller for Frequency Support Applications Using Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing

Abstract

In recent years, the significant integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) for grid support applications and ancillary services has increased system complexity and challenges. To address the challenges associated with the declining inertia of the system, the transmission system operators (TSO) have implemented obligatory frequency regulation anciIRllary services to be followed by customers. This paper presents the process of testing the compliance of a power plant controller (PPC) by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) before deployment in the field. In particular, the functionality of primary frequency response (PFR) and fast frequency response (FFR) controllers of the PPC is demonstrated through hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. The results show that tuned PPC controller with proper integration into the system can comply with ERCOT requirements.