Summary
The rapid transformation of power systems with increasing renewable energy integration presents unprecedented challenges for maintaining grid stability and reliability. As traditional synchronous generators are retired and replaced with inverter-based resources (IBRs), fundamental changes in system dynamic behavior are emerging that require comprehensive understanding and improved planning strategies. This paper develops a framework to systematically evaluate how increasing renewable penetration affects power system dynamic performance during contingency events, with particular emphasis on the locational variation of these impacts across different regions. The study also explores the effectiveness of Grid
Read more Read lessEnhancing Technologies (GETs) including STATCOMs, shunts, and Battery Energy Storage
Systems as strategic non-wires solutions.
Using the WECC 240-bus test system with 14 zones, the methodology incorporates generic
IBR models that capture dynamic behavior during system disturbances. Comparative analysis between low and high IBR penetration scenarios reveals critical insights about regional variations in IBR impact, some zones demonstrate greater resilience to renewable integration while others require targeted mitigation strategies. The results show that high-solar zones such as Arizona and Nevada exhibit degraded voltage recovery and reduced system strength, while synchronous generation-dominant zones maintain acceptable performance. This regional heterogeneity underscores the importance of location-specific planning rather than system-wide generalizations. The research demonstrates that strategically deployed GETs can effectively mitigate these challenges, with STATCOMs improving voltage recovery at weak buses and fast frequency response (FFR) enabled battery energy storage system (BESS) providing frequency support through synthetic inertia. Coordinated GET deployment offers a practical pathway for accommodating renewable growth without compromising system reliability, potentially deferring or reducing the need for traditional transmission expansion.
Additional informations
| Publication type | Session Materials |
|---|---|
| Reference | C4_10183_2026 |
| Publication year | |
| Publisher | CIGRE |
| Country | United States of America |
| Study committees |
|
| File size | 912 KB |
| Price for non member | 30 € |
| Price for member | 30 € |
Authors
RAMASUBRAMANIAN Deepak - Electric Power Research Institute, United States of America; SARWAR Muhammad - Electric Power Research Institute, United States of America
Keywords
