Transient Stability Enhancement of a Hybrid Wind-PV Farm incorporating a STATCOM

The transient stability enhancement of IEEE-14 bus system integrated with the hybrid wind-PV farm incorporating a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) has been scrutinized critically in the present work. The hybrid wind-solar PV farm consists of wind farm employing variable speed doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG), and a solar farm based on variable irradiation. Steady-state analysis corresponding to different operating conditions are performed to find the best combination of variable wind speed and solar irradiation for stable operation. Symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults are created at different locations of the integrated power system to examine voltage profile, active and reactive power, with and without the STATCOM at the point of common coupling (PCC). The main factor responsible for the instability of the power system has been found to be an imbalance of reactive power. Simulation has been done on Power systems computer-aided design (PSCAD)/EMTDC, and the outcomes demonstrate that STATCOM improves the transient stability by reactive power compensation, reducing post-fault settling time. A remarkable improvement in the voltage profile of the hybrid power system has been found in the presence of flexible alternating current transmission System (FACTS) device.