Protection system for a wind generation plant in Panama: Challenges and solutions

The Penonomé wind power plant in Panama will have a total capacity of 337.5 MW. The first two phases currently in service provide 270 MW of generation. In this power plant, wind generators belonging to different companies are connected to a 34.5 kV system. Two transformers interconnect the 34.5 kV system to Panama's 230 kV transmission system at the El Coco substation. The 34.5 kV system is grounded through zig-zag and grounded-wye/delta banks. This paper describes the 34.5 kV system protection challenges and solutions, discusses the protection coordination requirements, and provides the coordination study results. The paper also provides recommendations for future enhancements of the protection system. Finally, the paper describes an actual event involving two cross-country faults in the 34.5 kV system.