Damping control in renewable-integrated power systems: A comparative analysis of PSS, POD-P, and POD-Q strategies

The shift from traditional fossil fuel-based power systems to renewable energy sources heightens the importance of frequency regulation. The lack of inertia in this new generation increases the risk of low-frequency oscillatory events, a significant concern in power systems stability. To mitigate these stability problems, it is crucial to study the effectiveness of damping controllers. This paper delves into the analysis of three damping controllers: the power system stabilizers (PSS) installed in synchronous generators, and two Power Oscillation Damping (POD) controllers, one with active power modulation (POD-P) and the other with reactive power modulation (POD-Q), typically installed in environments with high renewable penetration.

The main objective is to critically evaluate the comparative advantages of PSS, POD-P, and POD-Q controllers in local and inter-area oscillations by exploring their flexibility and performance under various initial conditions and oscillatory scenarios. The proper choice of damping controllers will ensure the stability of the grid in future scenarios of high renewable production, thus allowing the definition of future technology needs. This research is of utmost importance as it aims to dampen different oscillations by employing uniform control parameters in the PSS, POD-P, and POD-Q controllers. Five scenarios are defined on a system based on the IEEE 39 Bus New England System model and simulated by DIgSILENT PowerFactory. The results are analyzed methodically per scenario, facilitating a comparative evaluation of the controllers and reaching promising conclusions.