Photovoltaic grid-forming control strategy investigation using hardware-in-the-loop experiments

TL;DR

This paper investigates the ability of photovoltaic inverters to form a stable grid connection in a microgrid without energy storage, using hardware-in-the-loop experiments on a real network to validate their performance.

Contribution

It demonstrates the feasibility of PV-based grid-forming inverters operating independently without energy storage through real-time hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Findings

PV inverters can effectively form a grid in real-time tests.

Grid-forming PV can reconnect with the utility grid with minimal communication.

Performance depends on irradiance and load conditions.

Abstract

The frequency stability of a power system is of paramount importance, as a fast frequency swings in the system can lead to oscillatory instability, and thereby blackouts. A grid-connected microgrid, that can operate in the islanded mode can also possess such deteriorating effect due to the higher share of converter-based sources. In this paper, a coordinated frequency control within a distribution network is discussed, with a higher share of Photovoltaics (PV). The main objective of this paper is to test the grid-forming capabilities of PVs, without the requirement of an energy storage in the network. The tests were carried out with the help of the Typhoon Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platform using a real Cypriot network feeder. The real-time results confirm the efficacy of the PV as a grid-forming inverter, provided it has sufficient input (irradiance) to provide for the loads within the system of interest. The grid-forming PV also possesses the capability of reconnection with the utility grid through a synchronizer switch that requires minimal communication, makes the overall control independent of any other power source, subject to certain irradiance and loading conditions.