Impacts of Renewable Energy on Transient and Voltage Stability of Electric Power Systems

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Stability is a fundamental premise for secure operation of every electric power system. As the loading demands are constantly increasing and the transmission networks are aging, the operating conditions of worldwide power systems have been pushed ever closer to their stability limits. Meanwhile, the integration of renewable energy sources has been constantly increasing. Particularly, Canada is a world leader in the production and use of all kinds of renewable energy. Although renewables bring numerous benefits, they also pose new challenges to power system stability. For example, the distinct dynamic responses of wind turbines and photovoltaic generators to disturbances may aggravate the contingencies, and thus deteriorate the stability of the overall power grid. As the penetration of renewables continues to increase in the foreseeable future, it is imperative to study the impacts of different renewables on various power system stability properties in order to enhance the stability and reliability of modern low carbon power systems.***This research program intends to examine the impacts of the randomness of renewables on transient and voltage stability of electric power systems, which have not been well recognized and addressed. Indeed, the variability of renewables may affect the stability regions for transient stability and reduce the voltage stability margins. In addition, the proposed research program will develop analytical and computational tools to conduct stability analysis for the systems integrating renewables, and furthermore design control measures to enhance the stability of those systems. From the theoretical perspective, this research program will exploit concepts from advanced nonlinear system theory in the context of power systems, and extend the existing results by incorporating stochasticity and even produce novel theoretical results in their own rights. From the practical view point, the research outcomes will provide physical insights, quantitative measures and computational tools to system operators on evaluating and enhancing the stability of power systems integrating renewables in the real world. The research outcomes will advance seamless integration of renewable energy sources into power grids, which is advocated not only in Canada but also globally. The four graduate students to be trained in this program will be well-equipped to contribute to the future of the Canadian power industry. In particular, Quebec has developed a solid reputation on the world stage in hydro-electric development, and is now at the forefront of research on integrating significant amounts of wind power into its grid. In this regard, the goals of the research program comply with the interests of local industries, and the outcomes of this research program will generate various collaboration opportunities with industry partners in the near future. **