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This book is the result of a concerted effort to shed scientific light on the timely theme of “Smart Photovoltaic Energy Systems for a Sustainable Future” [...]

Along with the increasing share of non-synchronous power sources, the inertia of power systems is being reduced, which can give rise to frequency containment problems should an outage of a generator or a power infeed happen. Low system inertia is eventually unavoidable, thus power system operators need to be prepared for this condition. This paper addresses the problem of low inertia in the power system from two different perspectives. At a system level, it proposes an operation planning methodology, which utilises a combination of power flow and dynamic simulation for calculation of existing inertia and, if need be, synthetic inertia (SI) to fulfil the security criterion of adequate rate of change of frequency (RoCoF). On a device level, it introduces a new concept for active power controller, which can be applied virtually to any power source with sufficient response time to create synthetic inertia. The methodology is demonstrated for a 24 h planning period, for which it proves to be effective. The performance of SI controller activated in a battery energy storage system (BESS) is positively validated using a real-time digital simulator (RTDS). Both proposals can effectively contribute to facilitating the operation of low inertia power systems.

The high penetration of the Renewable Energy Sources and other emerging technologies likely to be installed in future power grids will pose new operational challenges to grid operators. One of the main issues expected to affect the operation of the power grid is the impact of inverter-based technologies to the power system inertia and, hence, to system stability. Consequently, the main challenge of the future grid is the evaluation of the frequency stability in the presence of inverter-based systems and how the aforementioned technology can support frequency stability without the help of the rotating masses of the traditional power grid systems. To assess the above problem, this paper proposes a methodology to evaluate the frequency stability in a projection of the real distribution grid in Cyprus with the time horizon to be the year 2030. The power grid under investigation is evaluated with and without the presence of smart hierarchical controllers for providing support to the power system under disturbance conditions. The advanced controllers were applied to manage the available power resource in a fast and effective manner to maintain frequency within nominal levels. The controllers have been implemented in two hierarchical levels revealing useful responses for managing low-inertia networks. The first is set to act locally within a preselected area and the second level effectively supporting the different areas for optimal operation. After undertaking a significant number of simulations for time-series of one year, it was concluded from the results that the local control approach manages to minimize the frequency excursion effectively and influence all related attributes including the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF), frequency nadir and frequency zenith.

Storage devices are introduced in microgrids in order to secure their power quality, power regularity and offer ancillary services in a transient period. In the transition period of a low voltage microgrid, from the connected mode of operation to the islanded mode of operation, the power unbalance can be partly covered by the inertia energy of the existing power sources. This paper proposes fuzzy local controllers exploiting the inertia of a Wind Turbine (WT) with a Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG), if such a machine exists in the microgrid, in order to decrease the necessary storage devices and the drawbacks that arise. The proposed controllers are based in fuzzy logic due to the non linear and stochastic behavior of the system. Two cases are studied and compared during the transient period where the microgrid architecture and the DFIG controller differ. In the first case, the understudy microgrid includes a hybrid fuel cell system (FCS)-battery system and a WT with a DFIGURE. The DFIG local controller in this case is also based in fuzzy logic and follows the classical optimum power absorption scenario for the WT. The transition of the microgrid from the connected mode of operation to the islanded mode is evaluated and, especially, the battery contribution is estimated. In the second case, the battery is eliminated. The fuzzy controller of the DFIG during the transition provides primary frequency control and local bus voltage support exploiting the WT inertia. The response of the system is estimated in both cases using MATLAB/Simulink software package.