New approach to improve interconnection relaying for IPPs

This paper discusses the interconnection protective relaying practices of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) with the utility grid. Specifically addressed are smaller IPPs in the kW and lower MW range (typically less than 10 MW), where relaying at the interconnection may function without the aid of sophisticated and expensive communication links to the utility substation. A novel protection tactic employing frequency rate-of-change is introduced as a possible method of increasing the security, reliability and speed of the IPP interconnection protection.