Eigenvalue sensitivity technique for optimal substitution of conventional generators with PV to meet the future goal of a renewable-dominant electrical grid

Solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation is a fast-expanding renewable energy source at the worldwide level. When multiple conventional generators are on the verge of retirement, it becomes crucial to identify the critical generators that must be revived to provide the necessary inertial support, and the generators that can be replaced with PV without significantly compromising stability. The Eigenvalue sensitivity method is used to identify generators that positively or negatively impact the eigenvalue damping. In this paper, a sensitivity analysis of critical modes to the system inertia is utilized to maximize the replacement of conventional generators with PV plants without significantly impacting system stability. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is evaluated by means of both frequency domain and time domain analyses, and the results are compared with some other intuitive approaches for generator replacement. The studies have been carried out on the 68-bus 16-machine power system on the MATLAB/Simulink platform.