Electric Grid Integration of Renewable Energy

Sources: Key Issues and Challenges

Bharat Singh Rajpurohit

Indian Institute of Technology Mandi
[email protected]
 IIT Mandi
IIT-Mandi, 12th year, 130
faculty, 1800 students. Near a
town of 50k amidst forested
mountains, with view of snow-
capped ranges.

• Started in 2008 with IIT Roorkee

as mentor.
• 538-acre campus in Kamand near
Mandi.
• VISION: to be a leader in science
and technology education,
knowledge creation and
innovation, in an India that is
marching towards a just, inclusive
and sustainable society.
• First new IIT started its operation
from permanent campus. Complete
shift by July 2015.
North campus

South campus

Uhl River
 Organisational Structure at IIT Mandi

School of School of
School of
School of Computing Humanities
Basic
Engineering & Electrical & Social
Sciences
Engg. Sciences

Advanced Materials Research Centre

BioX Centre

Centre for Design and Fabrication of Electronic Devices

Energy Centre

Centre for Uplifting Himalayan Livelihood (UHL)

 IIT Mandi: R & D Focus

• Selected inter-disciplinary focus:

– Technologies for sustainable development,
– Green energy technologies - solar, hydro,
geothermal, biomass, …
– Materials for electronics and electrical engineering,
and bio-applications,
– Integrated mountain development - construction,
roads and railways, disaster management, …
– Agricultural and food processing technologies.

World-class research + excellence in teaching

 Introduction

• The world needs energy innovation

• Problem : Security of supply, climate change and sustainability
• Solution : Transitions to clean, reliable and affordable energy
• Methods : Renewable energy, energy savings and clean use of
fossil fuels
• Wind power/Solar power
• Proved as a potential source for generation of electricity
• Minimal environmental impact
• Fastest-growing source and expected to remain in future
• Modern wind/solar farms
• Can capture several MWs of power (11 MW largest wind turbine)
• Can supplement the base power
 Renewable Energy Development in India

Government of India has created conducive environment for

speedy development of RES and to attract private investors
by providing
Subsidy and fiscal incentives,
policies support,
regulatory & legislative framework,
finances, consultancy services,
research design & development,
up-gradation of existing technologies, and,
planning & resource assessment.
Government is a catalyst and facilitator, however, the
implementation is being carried out by the States or by the
private sector. 10

Several States have so far announced promotional policies

for RES.
 Installed Generation Capacity
Installed Power Generation Capacity
(March 2021)
382 GW Total
234-Thermal power
46-Hydro
6.8-Nuclear
94-Renewable

Renewable Energy Sources (Nov. 2020)

90 GW
38-Wind
4.7-Small-hydro (< 25 MW)
10- Biomass Power & Gasification
37-Solar power
 Key Drivers

Towards Sustainability in Electric Energy

Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO)

-Solar & non-solar
-Issued by States (SERC & CERC)
-Obligated by power utilities

*RPO is the minimum amount of renewable energy to be purchased by the

States in order to meet the mandatory electric energy requirement.
 With high penetration of RES

 Conventional power plants

 Large synchronous machines
 Provides primary & secondary control
 Meet the specific grid connection requirements (GCR)

 With increased penetration of wind/solar power

 Mostly converter interfaced small asynchronous generators/ generations,
 Poses new challenges in maintaining reliability and stability of electricity supply,
 Advanced GCR are required to be developed for efficient, stable and secure operation
of grid ,
 Loss of generation cannot be tolerable,
 Need to perform suitable studies to analyze the interaction of wind/solar power with
existing grid,
 Need to develop several solutions to improve and mitigate negative consequences on
the existing grid, if any.

Intermittency (reliability, stability etc.) and High Cost

 Contents

• Grid connection issues

• Economic issues System Operational Aspects
 Grid Connection Issues

• Technical guidelines and requirements for RES

are varying with one State to other States and
not good enough for the large RES integration
into the grid.
• In order to promote RES and to maintain
common grid discipline there is an urgent need
of a specific and common grid code for RES in
India.
 Grid Connection Issues

Grid connection requirements: Intermittency

– Active power/ Frequency Regulation
– Reactive power/Voltage Control
– Fault-ride through capability
– Scheduling/Dispatch/Forecasting
Grid connectivity or evacuation of energy:
– Remote areas, augmentation of existing power transmission lines
or new lines
– Interconnection point
 ACTIVE POWER CONTROL

Active Power Control is a requirement for generating units to be able to

deliver power and remain connected to the network even if the system
frequency deviates from specified one

An adjustable upper limit to the active power production from the wind
farm shall be available whenever the wind farm is in operation

Ramping control

Fast down regulation.

 Automatic frequency control

 REACTIVE POWER (OR VOLTAGE)CONTROL

 Voltage control is a requirement for generating units to supply

lagging/leading reactive power at the grid connection point.

 Wind turbine should be capable of supplying a proportion of the

systems reactive capacity, including the dynamic capability and
should contribute to maintain the reactive power balance.

 Requirements of the grid codes for reactive power capability

demand that the power factor be maintained in the specified
range.

 The wind farm must have adequate reactive capacity to be able

to be operated with zero reactive exchange with the network
measured at the connection point, when the voltage and the
frequency are within normal operation limits.
REACTIVE POWER (OR VOLTAGE)CONTROL

Voltage control requirements

 REACTIVE POWER (OR VOLTAGE)CONTROL

 Older WPG based on IG require a reactive power support from the

power systems.
 Modern WPG can provide dynamic reactive power capability directly
from the power electronics converters
 Several TSO required that a wind farm owner supplies a PQ diagram
showing the regulation capability for reactive power of the installation
at the connection point.

Capability curve of DFIG

 FAULT-RIDE THROUGH

 FRT: is the requirement for generating units to revert to

normal operation when fault on power system is cleared.

 FRT requirement is imposed on a wind power generator so

that it remains stable and connected to the network during
the network faults.

 Disconnection from grid may worsen a critical grid situation

and can threaten the security standards when wind
penetration is high.
 FAULT-RIDE THROUGH IN GERMANY

 In Germany, the wind generating

plants are expected to acquit
themselves during a low-voltage
disturbance as summarized in a
voltage vs. time curve.

 Wind turbines are required to stay

on the grid within areas 1 and 2. If a
wind turbine faces overloads,
stability or other kinds of technical
problems in area 2, it can be
disconnected itself from the grid
provided a resynchronization can
take place after 2s.

 Moreover, it must be able to

increase the active power output
following the resynchronization by
gradients of at least 10% of the Definition of FRT requirements
nominal power per second.
 Wind farm Protection & FAULT-RIDE
THROUGH
The wind farm must be able to continue operation during and after
disturbances in the transmission network. This requirement applies
under the following conditions:
 The wind farm and the wind turbines in the wind farm must be able to stay
connected to the system and to maintain operation during and after
dimensioning faults in the transmission system.
 The wind farm may disconnect from the system, if the voltage in the
connection point during or after a system disturbance do fall below the
certain levels.

The fault duration, where the voltage in the connection point may be
zero, is 100 milliseconds for 800 kV & 400 kV and 160 milliseconds
for 220 kV & 132 kV.
 Wind farm Protection & FAULT-RIDE
THROUGH

Over Voltage Protection:

The generating station connected to the grid, shall remain connected to

the grid when voltage at the interconnection point, on any or all
phases (symmetrical or asymmetrical overvoltage conditions) rises
above the specified values given below for specified time —
 Supervisory Control & Data Acquisition

 SCADA is recommended for the remote control of wind power

and telemetry of the parameters important for scheduling and
forecasting is obtained.

 In most regulations, the wind farm owner is required to provide

the signals necessary for the operation of the power system.

 Information’s required generally from wind farms are voltage,

current, frequency, active power, reactive power, operating
status, wind speed, wind direction, regulation capability,
ambient temperature and pressure, frequency control status
and external control possibilities.
POWER QUALITY
Point of Common Coupling

PCC
P

Add on
Equipment
 DOUBLY-FED INDUCTION GENERATOR
RSC LSC
Chopper

Crowbar
DFIG
UT

Fault-ride through (FRT) : Objectives & Solutions

Protection of converters Crowbar
Grid codes fulfillment Chopper
Reducing mechanical stress Series connection
Extra series converter
 Economic Issues

High capital/energy Cost

 Promotion of Renewable Energy by Policy Design and
Regulatory Initiatives

oElectricity Act 2003 (Jun 2003)

oNational Electricity Policy (Feb 2005)
Central Government
oNational Tariff Policy (Jan 2006)
oNational Action Plan on Climate Change (Jun 2008)

o Regulations for Preferential Tariff for RE (Sep 2009)

Central Electricity
Regulatory o Renewable Energy Certificate Mechanism (Jan 2010)
Commission o Implementation Framework (2010 – ongoing)

o Preferential RE Tariff Orders by SERCs (2002–2010)

State Electricity o Over 19 States have mandated Renewable Purchase
Regulatory
Obligations (2004 – 2010)
Commission
o Modification to RPO and adoption of REC framework
 Preferential Tariffs/Policy Announced by the
SERC’s for Wind/Biomass/SHP
Sources Wind Biomass/Cogeneration SHP
Items Wheeling Banking Buy-back (INR/kWh) Wheeling Banking Buy-back Buy-back
Charges Charges (INR/kWh) (INR/kWh)
States
Andhra 2% of energy 12 Months 3.37 28.4 % + Allowed at 2% 2.63 2.69
Pradesh INR 0.5 kWh for 8-12
Chhattisgarh -- -- -- 6 % of energy Not Allowed 2.67 --
Gujrat 4% of energy -- 3.37 fixed for 20 yrs. 4 % of energy Allowed 3.0 --
Haryana 2% of energy Allowed 4.08 + Escalation 1.5% 2 % of energy Allowed 4.0 2.25
HP -- -- -- -- -- -- 2.50
Karnataka 2% of energy 2% /Month 3.40 fixed for 10 years 5% surcharge Allowed at 2% 2.27 2.90
for 12 INR 1.13/kWh
Month
Kerala 5% of energy 9 Months 3.14 fixed for 20 years 5% of energy Allowed 4 Months 2.80 --
(Jun.–Feb.)
Maharastra 2% of energy 12 Months 3.50 + Escalation of 0.15 for 13 7% of energy Allowed 3.05 2.25
+5%trans.loss years from documentation of the
project
Madhya 2% of energy Not allowed 3.97 (with decrease of 0.7 upto -- Allowed 3.33 2.25
Pradesh 4th yr ) then fixed at 3.30 from 5th
yr onwards uniformly for 20
years
Punjab -- -- -- 2% of energy Allowed12 3.59 2.73
Months
Rajasthan 10% of energy 3 Months 3.59 for Jaisalmer, Jodhpur etc. 10% of energy Allowed 12 3.60 2.75
and 3.67 for other districts Months
Tamil Nadu 5% of energy 5% 2.90 (Levelised) 2-10% Allowed at 2% 2.73 --
12 months charge
Uttar Pradesh -- -- -- 12.5% of energy Allowed 2.67 2.25
24 Months
West-Bengal INR 0.3/kWh 6 Months To be decided on case to case -- -- -- --
with a cap of 4
Open access transaction is allowed in all States. Third party sale is allowed in case of wind in all States. RPS is announced in each State
 Incentives/Promotion Policies
The MNRE has been providing capital subsidy as Central Financial
Assistance (CFA), depending on type and the size of the plants, and
category of institutions and areas to promote RES.

S. Sources/Systems Central Financial Assistance (in INR)

No.
Special Category States Other States
(NE region, , J&K, HP and Uttaranchal)
1 Wind Power 3 × MF 2.5 × MF
2 Biomass Power (Agro- residues) 0.25 × MF 0.20 × MF
3(i) Small Hydro Power (up to 25 MW) 2.2 × MF 1.5 × MF
3(ii) Renovation and Modernization of 1.125 × MF 0.75 × MF
SHP
4 Biomass Power using Advanced 1.2 × MF 1.0 × MF
Technologies
5 Cogeneration Bagasse (Private)
40 bar & above 0.18 × MF 15 × MF
6 Cogeneration Bagasse (Public/joint)
40 bar & above 0.40 × MF 0.40 × MF
60 bar & above 0.50 × MF 0.50× MF
80 bar & above 0.60 × MF 0.60 × MF
7 Waste-to-energy 20% higher than other States (0.50-1.0)×107
MF = 107 × C0.646, C = Capacity of the project in MW
 Economic Issues

Preferential Tariff & Incentives

 CERC/SERC has announced preferential tariff for RES;
 Zero or concessional duty applicable on import of certain specific items;
 Zero Excise duty on domestic manufacture of many solar energy devices and
systems;
 CERC/SERC will review the costs periodically and fix tariff accordingly for new
projects.
 Renewable Purchase Obligations : Potential Problems

• SERCs of those states, in which RE potential is not significant are

constrained from specifying higher RPOs.
o DERC has fixed RPO of 1%.

o MPERC has fixed RPO of 10%, actual achievement < 1% .

• SERCs of those states, in which the RE potential is very high

(Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu etc.) specified higher RPOs. Though
significant headroom is available in these states for enhancing the
RPOs, expensive renewal electricity becomes a constraint.
 Key Objectives for Introduction of
REC Mechanism
 Effective implementation of RPO

 Increased flexibility for participants

 Overcome geographical constraints

 Reduce transaction costs for RE transactions

 Enforcement of penalty mechanism

 Create competition among different RE technologies

 Development of all encompassing incentive mechanism

 Reduce risks for local distributor by limiting its liability to energy purchase

 In Indian Context, following aspects had to be considered for REC design

 Electricity Market is regulated to great extent
 (> 90% of electricity volumes continue to be transacted at regulated rate)
 Preferential RE Tariff regime to continue (Feed-in tariff & REC to co-exist)
 CERC REC Regulation, 2010 – Conceptual Framework

RE Generation*

Sale at
Electricity REC Component
Preferential
Component
Tariff

Distribution Company
Obligated Entities / Third Party Sale/ Obligated Entities /
Power Exchange Voluntary Buyers

* Self consumption by CPPs based upon renewable generation are eligible for RECs
 Concept of REC Mechanism in India

Electricity At Tariff
Existing Renewable Distribution Determined by
Mechanism Energy REC Company Regulatory
Commission

Bilateral
OA / Trader agreement
(de-regulated)

Electricity Avg. PP Cost

Distribution
of Host Utility
Company
(regulated)
REC Renewable
Mechanism Energy
Obligated Market Rate
REC Entity as per
(Buyer) Power Exchange
 REC Pricing Framework
Renewable Energy

REC Component
Electricity Component (Environmental
Attribute)

Bilateral Agreement Average Market Discovered Price

Power Purchase Cost (Obligated Entity/Voluntary
(de-regulated)
(Distribution Utility) Buyer)
(OA User/Trader)

Andhra Pradesh - Rs 1.78/kWh

Maharashtra - Rs 2.43/kWh
Non Solar Solar
Karnataka - Rs 1.85/kWh Parameters
REC REC
Kerala - Rs 1.46/kWh Forbearance
3900 17000
Tamil Nadu - Rs 2.62/kWh Price (Rs/MWh)

Himachal Pradesh - Rs 1.48/kWh Floor Price

1500 12000
(Rs/MWh)
Rajasthan - Rs 2.48/kWh
Complementary Commercial Mechanism for
Scheduling of RES
Capacity Ch. + Energy Ch.  UI

A + B  C
 ABT & Unschedule Interchange
‘Unscheduled Interchange’ in a time-block for a generating
station or a seller means actual generation minus its scheduled
generation and for a beneficiary or buyer means its total actual
drawal minus its total scheduled drawal.
 Special dispensation for scheduling of solar
generation
• The schedule of solar generation shall be given by the generator based
on availability of the generator, weather forecasting, solar insolation,
season and normal solar generation curve and shall be vetted by the
RLDC in which the generator is located and incorporated in the inter-
state schedule.
• In case of solar generation no UI shall be payable/receivable by
Generator. The host state , shall bear the UI charges for any deviation
in actual generation from the schedule.
• Purchasing state to pay to solar generator at contracted rate for
whatever power is generated by the solar generation.
• Remaining under drawal / over-drawal to be settled in UI mechanism
and RRF.
 Illustrative examples for commercial settlement for
Solar Generation

• Case 1: Actual as per generation schedule

Schedule Actual Implication Unscheduled Interchange (UI)
( MW) generation on
(MW) purchaser Implication on Implication on
host state solar Generator
5 5 Purchaser to pay No implication No implication
Solar Generator on host state. on solar
for 5 MW at generator.
contracted rate.
 Illustrative examples for commercial settlement for
Solar Generation

• Case 2: Under Injection by the Solar Generator

Schedule Actual Implication Unscheduled Interchange (UI)
( MW) generation on
Implication on Implication on
(MW) purchaser
host state solar Generator
5 4 Payment to be For 1 MW UI No implication on
made by purchaser liability on the Solar generator.
for 4 MW (as per host state, as a
actual) at result of under
Contracted rate and generation by
for 1 MW the Solar
to RRF at UI rate Generator
embedded in the
State system,
the same shall
be received by
the host state
from RRF at UI
rate.
 Illustrative examples for commercial settlement for
Solar Generation

• Case 3: Over Injection by the Solar Generator

Schedule Actual Implication on Unscheduled Interchange (UI)
( MW) generation Purchaser
Implication on Implication on
(MW)
host state wind Generator
5 6 To pay for 6 MW to For 1 MW, UI No implication on
Solar generator benefit for the Solar generator.
at contracted rate host State on
Purchaser shall account of
receive payment for overgeneration
1 MW from RRF at by
contracted rate. solar generator to
be passed on to
the RRF at UI
rate
 Conclusions

 High penetration of RES can have a significant influence on

the operation of power systems.

 Grid codes are set up to specify the relevant requirements for

efficient and secure operation of power system for all network
users and these specifications have to be met in order to
integrate RES into the grid.

 Economic issues and practices in India.

 Development of suitable market mechanism for emerging

electric power systems.
Thank You
&
Questions
 ACTIVE POWER CONTROL

Active Power Control is a requirement for generating units to be able to

deliver power and remain connected to the network even if the system
frequency deviates from specified one

An adjustable upper limit to the active power production from the wind
farm shall be available whenever the wind farm is in operation
 The upper limit shall control that the active power production, measured as a
15 minute average value, does not exceed a specified level and the limit shall
be adjustable by remote signals.
 It must be possible to set the limit to any value with an accuracy of ±5%, in
the range from 20% to 100% of the wind farm rated power.

Ramping control of active power production must be possible.

 Limit on ramping speed of active power production from the wind turbine in
upwards direction to 10 % of rated power per minute.
 No requirement for down ramping due to fast wind speed decays, but to limit
the down ramping speed to 10 % of rated power per minute, when the
maximum power output limit is reduced by a control action.
 ACTIVE POWER CONTROL

Fast down regulation. It must be possible to regulate the active power

from the wind turbine down from 100% to 20% of rated power in less
than 5 seconds.
 This functionality is required for system protection schemes.
 Some system protection schemes implemented for stability
purposes require the active power to be restored within short time
after down regulation.
 For that reason disconnection of a number of wind turbines within a
wind farm cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.

 Frequency control. Automatic control of the wind turbine active

production as a function of the system frequency must be possible.
 The control function must be proportional to frequency deviations
and must be provided with a dead-band .
 The detailed settings will be provided by the respective State
utilities.
 ACTIVE POWER CONTROL

Shall have governors or frequency controllers of the units at a droop of 3 to

6% and a dead band not exceeding ±0.03 Hz:

Provided that for frequency deviations in excess of 0.3 Hz, the Generating
Station shall have the facility to provide an immediate (within 1 second) real
power primary frequency response of at least 10% of the maximum
Alternating Current active power capacity;

Shall have the operating range of the frequency response and regulation
system from 10% to 100% of the maximum Alternating Current active power
capacity, corresponding to solar insolation or wind speed, as the case may
be;

Shall be equipped with the facility for controlling the rate of change of power
output at a rate not more than ± 10% per minute.

Ref. : Technical Standards for Connectivity to the Grid) (Amendment) Regulations, 2019, for
10 MW and more.
 REACTIVE POWER (OR VOLTAGE)CONTROL

 According to the German grid code, the wind turbines must provide, being a
mandatory requirement, voltage support during voltage dips.
 Wind turbines have to supply at least 1.0 p.u. reactive current when the voltage
falls below 50%.
 A dead band of 10% is introduced to avoid undesirable control actions. However,
for the wind farms connected to the high voltage grid, the continuous voltage
control without dead band is also under consideration.

Voltage control requirements