Deployment of Synchronous Condensers to Improve System Strength under High Wind Power Penetration

The compelling retirement of many conventional power plants (mostly coal-based in Australia), resulting from renewable energy integration, deteriorates system strength which is the capability of a power system to recover a fault. Due to low system strength, a power network becomes less resilient to disturbances. To mitigate this issue, additional synchronous condensers can be deployed. These devices contribute to fault current and provide voltage support to enhance system strength. However, installation of synchronous condensers is costly and hence the best strategy for their allocation is a major concern. To this end, this paper proposes an optimisation algorithm to allocate synchronous condensers to enhance system strength under high wind penetration. For this purpose, two different methods for system strength calculations are considered and then a joint platform consisting of a Genetic Algorithm and PSS®E is established. Finally, the developed algorithm is applied to a wind dominated power system.