Challenges and learning in Grid operation during high Renewable Energy scenario- A case study

India is Renewable Energy (RE) rich country and to harness this potential, the target set by the Government of India for RE generation is 500 GW by 2050. The RE generators can be brought up only in the area where the solar irradiance and wind speed is higher. Since the huge potential of RE generation for Northern part of India is in a smaller pocket, the evacuation of this generation has to be done through narrow transmission corridors. Initially, when RE Ingress is less, the existing grid and traditional operation philosophy is sufficient to manage the grid, but it becomes complex when the RE Ingress becomes higher. The small changes in grid parameters might result in cascade tripping of transmission lines, and the generators. To overcome these challenges, the authors have conducted a comparative study with real-time data of three scenarios viz. Normal Scenario of Low RE Ingress, Scenario of High RE Ingress with traditional operation philosophy, and the Scenario of High RE Ingress with proposed operation philosophy based on real-time grid operation experience. The authors have proposed a solution to carry out real-time grid operation by analysing the real time data based on real-time experience to reduce tripping, and loss of RE generation.