Control technique for the operation of grid-tied converters with high penetration of renewable energy resources

Abstract This paper deals with a control technique based on inherent characteristics of synchronous generators (SG) for control of interfaced converters with high penetration of renewable energy resources (RERs) into the power grid, as a new contribution to earlier studies. To present an appropriate assessment of the proposed control technique, under dynamic operating condition, a P–Q curve is extracted and analysed based on the different components and characteristics of the interfaced converter as well as the conventional relationship between the active and reactive power. By combining the swing equation of SG and the power-based dynamic model, a Pm–Q curve is achieved and the effects of the variations of embedded virtual inertia on virtual mechanical power are assessed. Moreover, by using small-signal linearization, the grid frequency stability is investigated based on both virtual inertia and mechanical power variations. In order to assess the power sharing ability of the proposed control technique, two transfer functions are obtained and then, the impacts of variations of virtual mechanical power on the active and reactive power of interfaced converter are evaluated through Nyquist and Root Locus diagrams. Simulation results confirm that the proposed control technique can guarantee the operation of interfaced converters, based on inherent characteristics of SG, to deal with the power grid stability with high penetration of RERs.