System stability
The progressive integration of renewable energy sources and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems along with the decommissioning of large power plants challenges the stability of the European transmission grid. Substituting synchronous machines and their rotating masses by active and fast-acting assets highly impacts the system stability. To evaluate this influence, adapted simulation environments and evaluation methods are required.
With the dynamic RMS time domain simulation toolbox MatPAT (Matlab based Power System Analysis Tool), the IAEW has developed a tool for investigating relevant short and long-term stability phenomena (e.g. frequency, voltage and transient stability). Using developed models of novel technologies such as HVDC transmission, active compensation systems (FACTs) and inverter-coupled generation units, the system stability can be adequately assessed, in particular with regard to future scenarios. In addition, the influence of distribution grids on the stability of the transmission grid can be assessed using dynamic equivalence models that represent aggregated subordinate distribution grids
Through interfaces to planning tools and market simulations, a large number of scenarios can be automatically evaluated from a stability perspective. Based on available information, the scenarios are extended by validated dynamic component models and parameters that reflect the dynamic behavior of different manufacturers- and/ or the nominal power of components.