FAULT analysis at a wind power plant for one year of observation

The growth of wind energy has mushroomed over the past decade. Over the next twenty years, there will be more significant growth in wind energy with the expectation of 20% wind grid penetration by 2030. To accommodate this amount of wind power into our grid, the infrastructure of the transmission grid must be improved. In the high penetration scenario, the ability of wind power plants to stay connected during disturbances is important to avoid a cascading effect due to lack of generation. So-called voltage ride-through capability has become a key criterion for wind integration. This paper analyzes the fault characteristics observed at a wind power plant, and the behavior of the wind power plant under fault events. The focus of observation is a wind power plant monitored in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) control area. The wind power plant is monitored during fault events for a period of one year. The fault events are actual faults occurring naturally in the surrounding wind power plants.